Soccer Thread 2022-2023

[miami_fan]

Time for a new thread. The women are taking over the international stage.

Women's Euros start tomorrow on ESPN+. Big news today that Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best Women's Player winner Alexia Putellas who is also Spain's captain tore her ACL today and will miss the tournament. I will still be rooting for Spain though I expect England to win.

CONCACAF W Championship started yesterday with the USWNT beating Hati 3-0. It is streaming on Paramount. A win is a win but that performance was not a good one.

Finally, 39 days and 42 days after crowning their respective champions, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying has begun.

[miami_fan]

Premier League football player faces two further allegations of rape (https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4694872/premier-league-player-faces-two-further-allegations-of-rape)

A Premier League footballer who was arrested on suspicion of rape faces two further allegations over attacks on another woman, sources told ESPN.

The player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was questioned by London's Metropolitan Police earlier this week and has been released on bail until an unspecified date in August.

[Critch]

Paramount+ has been pretty good for the early Champions League qualifiers, brought to the end the long dark summer days of no soccer. Educational too, I now know that Batumi is in Georgia.

All of the internet rumors for the arrested PL player seem to be giving the same name now. 29 years old, North London, international who would be going to the World Cup, not many names who fit that list.

[miami_fan]

My god, this is an amazing attacking display by England and a horrible display of defense by Norway.

[CarterNMA]

I forgot to post this back when it happened. Better late than never?

So happy to see Nottingham Forest make it back to the top. I watched their final match on ESPN+. It was my first time using the channel since I signed up for the Disney bundle back in December.

It was an exciting match. Their GK got injured around the 90th minute and their backup is an American. He came in and played well in the 7 or so minutes of stoppage to seal the 1-0 victory. I hope they manage to avoid relegation.

[sovereignstar v2]

neymar.

[miami_fan]

Is Pep getting plugs or a transplant so he will have something to pull out when PSG Neymar does PSG Neymar things?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Atlanta United’s Darren Eales leaving to join Newcastle United (https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-united/atlanta-uniteds-darren-eales-leaving-to-join-newcastle-united/3YD3BUSAAJDP7DUSOQT5A4AJXU/)

[miami_fan]

My son went to the Arsenal vs Chelsea match in Orlando last night. He said he had a great time despite going with his Chelsea supporting best friend. He enjoyed explaining to his friend why they had to go through a specific gate as opposed to the gate that was closest to where they parked.:lol:

[flere-imsaho]

Manchester United spending all summer trying to sign de Jong for 80M for a role not of need, no matter how good he is, when Manchester City just signed Kalvin Phillips for 42M for a role of great need for United really summarizes everything about being a fan of this team right now.

[sovereignstar v2]

Oh knoes! What a frightening think-tank! As if Ferguson hasn't been pulling lots of strings since he retired. HE is part of the current problem with that club.

Sir Alex Ferguson is BACK at Manchester United to assist with all aspects of the club | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11062605/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Manchester-United-order-help-Erik-ten-Hags-rebuild.html)

[SirFozzie]

I think we have a top candidate for the award of "The most petulant red card of the 2022-23" season on day 1 of it.

https://twitter.com/Mattyp45/status/1553393769399160833

[Critch]

I think we have a top candidate for the award of "The most petulant red card of the 2022-23" season on day 1 of it.

https://twitter.com/Mattyp45/status/1553393769399160833

Seen some posts online complaining about the ref and blaming him, but Tomlin deserved the red just for being a dick.

[bhlloy]

Ah, Tomlin. The guy who would get into shape just long enough to play a couple of games towards the end of the year to get an extension and then show up for the new season 30lb overweight and immediately get injured for 6 months.

Complete waste of talent but he’s managed to use it just enough to make a nice career in the EFL. Definitely could have been much more though.

[bhlloy]

DOLA - 11th red card in the EFL I think that was. For somebody who has missed so many games in his career, that’s quite an impressive record.

[flere-imsaho]

England have won the the European Championship over Germany, in extra time, without needing to go to penalties!

Time to disband the men's team in shame, really....

[flere-imsaho]

Seen some posts online complaining about the ref and blaming him, but Tomlin deserved the red just for being a dick.

LOL, idiots. Per Law 12.3, there's 3 or 4 yellow cards in the space of about 5 seconds there:

Delaying restart of the play, twice. (2)
Unsportsmanlike behavior for attempting to deceive the referee (1)
If you want to be petty, another yellow for persistent offences.

What an idiot.

[Ksyrup]

Can someone tell me WTF Leicester is doing? From a US/casual fan standpoint, nothing makes sense. Following a nice 6-8 year run of top 8-10 finishes, they are the only EPL team not to sign a single player this off-season, all of their best players are rumored to be possibly sold, even to inferior teams in their own league, and now Schmeichel is gone. Why the hell would Vardy want to stay?

Is this just a total reset looking at the future, or are there financial issues offsetting several years of solid finishes? I don't get it. I root for them, and I get parting with aging players, but a total sell-off seems like an unforced error and/or profit-taking.

[Critch]

Not sure if this belongs in here or in the streaming thread, but the All or Nothing:Arsenal showed up today on Prime. First three episodes are available and one a week from now on.

A good watch so far.

[miami_fan]

Can someone tell me WTF Leicester is doing? From a US/casual fan standpoint, nothing makes sense. Following a nice 6-8 year run of top 8-10 finishes, they are the only EPL team not to sign a single player this off-season, all of their best players are rumored to be possibly sold, even to inferior teams in their own league, and now Schmeichel is gone. Why the hell would Vardy want to stay?

Is this just a total reset looking at the future, or are there financial issues offsetting several years of solid finishes? I don't get it. I root for them, and I get parting with aging players, but a total sell-off seems like an unforced error and/or profit-taking.

My educated guess is they need to balance the books. LFC usually makes a big money player sale that helps finance player buys. Riyad Mahrez in 18/19, Harry Maguire in 19/20, and Ben Chillwell in 20/21. Those guys brought in at least $55 million each. Last year the biggest sale brought in a whopping $3.30 million and they only brought in about $4.4 million in total. According to Transfermarkt, Ndidi, Tielmans, and Maddison are valued at $55m or above. My guess is they probably need to sell 2 of those 3 to fund a few incoming transfers.

[SirFozzie]

I'm going to try to do a version of the Premier League Predictions the BBC website does every week.

The rules are as follows: Call the correct result (win or draw), 10 Points. Call the correct score, 30 Points

For comparison, here are the BBC's picks between their main predictor (Chris Sutton) and their weekly guest (this time it's his co-host, Ali Bruce-Ball)

Premier League predictions - week 1
Result Sutton ABB
FRIDAY
Crystal Palace v Arsenal x-x 1-2 1-1
SATURDAY
Fulham v Liverpool x-x 0-3 0-4
Bournemouth v Aston Villa x-x 0-1 1-2
Leeds v Wolves x-x 0-0 1-1
Newcastle v Nott'm Forest x-x 1-0 2-0
Tottenham v Southampton x-x 2-1 3-0
Everton v Chelsea x-x 0-2 0-2
SUNDAY
Leicester v Brentford x-x 1-1 2-1
Man Utd v Brighton x-x 1-1 0-1
West Ham v Man City x-x 0-3 0-2

My predictions

Friday

Crystal Palace v Arsenal (3:00 PM Eastern)

My brain tells me it's a horrible idea to predict a fast start for the Gunners, because, well, (waves hand at all their debacles over the last few years). But Crystal Palace haven't done enough to improve in the transfer market, and Arsenal are looking good in preseason (now that joke's out of the way...). I'm going to reluctantly pick Arsenal to avoid the banana peel.

Foz Predicts: Arsenal 1-0

Saturday

Fulham v Liverpool (7:30 AM Eastern)

Welcome back to the Premier League, Cottagers.. your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to not get utterly thrashed by a Liverpool team that decided to reload and just took the Community Shield from Man City. (Random Note: The auto-correct in Firefox wanted to change Fulham into Shameful. You know something I don't auto-correct?)

(talk about Mission:Impossible)

Foz Prediction: Liverpool 4-0

Bournemouth v Aston Villa (10 AM Eastern)

Neither side has really improved itself over the last season, but Villa had a better squad last year, and I like them to squeak it by the lone goal.

Foz Prediction: Aston Villa 1-0

Leeds vs Wolves (10 AM Eastern)

We talk about matchup where the irresistible force meets the immovable object. This is the opposite of that. The resistible force (Wolves offense without injured players) vs the Moveable Object (Leeds traditionally all-offense defense). I almost went with the Leeds shocker but I'll take the safe draw.

Foz Prediction: 0-0

Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest (10 AM Eastern)

I was so prepared to LOL at the Magpies when they were taking over by the Saudis in their current sportswashing regime. This looked to be a prime candidate for the usual "Instant Gratification signing high priced has-beens and overhyped players before it all breaks down messily" story we see when new rich owners take over. That hasn't happened so far, and looking at their transfer activity, I'm not sure it will ever happen. Not quite a big six team yet, but I don't see Newcastle sweating the drop like they did last season pre-takeover. Forest has made it back to the EPL, but this is one of the tougher matchups they could have gotten as they travel to Newcastle

Foz Prediction Newcastle 2-0

Spurs vs Southampton (10 AM Eastern)

Someone needs to remake a certain show and make it about Spurs. They could call it "It's always sunny (to start the season) in Tottenham." Every year, they look placed to do well to start the season, only to well, you know... be Tottenham. They have a lot of offense, and for once actually have some capable backups. Southampton have to be favorites for the drop, so I think that the Tottenham hype train will be full speed ahead after a big week 1 win. Of course, we're just waiting for the wheels to come off..

Foz Prediction: Tottenham 3-0

Chelsea v Everton (12:30 PM Eastern)

You know, with Everton being so laughable last year for most of the season, you think this would be a great time to bet on Chelsea. Not so fast, my friends. Chelsea are a team in flux (as opposed to their opponents, who are a team in fucked.). They're still at the stage that most Football Manager players are familiar with. "Well, I can put him there, but that leaves an opening here, and do I really want to use him in that role...". Chelsea lack familiarity and a common vision at this point. I'm still taking them to win, but I wouldn't be shocked to see a sharing of the points.

Foz Prediction 1-0 Chelsea

SUNDAY

Leicster City vs Brentford (9:00 AM Eastern)

True story: When I was going to type this section out, I tried for a gut reaction to seeing the match up, but I get "Eff If I know what's going to happen" out of this. Any of the three results wouldn't surprise me. Selling your long term first choice keeper a week before the season does not a confidence booster make. Brentford look decent enough, but I'm going to take the draw because well, "Eff if I know what's going to happen."

Foz Prediction: 1-1 Draw

Manchester United vs Brighton (9:00 AM)

Speaking of teams that "Eff I know what's going to happen", helloooooo Manchester United! After an offseason where Cristiano Ronaldo tried to flog himself to every champions league under the sun and tried to pull the petulant star power move of leaving a preseason game at halftime after being substituted, but he's not going anywhere. At least for now. New manager, new system, and well (waves vaguely at the fans wanting the Glazers under the Guillotines). In short, this fixture is a whole truckload of banana peels for the Red Devils. I don't think it's a complete wind up, but to the Red Devils fans, a draw is as good as a loss, so let's go for that.

Foz Prediction: 2-2 draw

West Ham United vs Manchester City 11:30 AM

Oof. Poor ol Hammers. Playing the last game of the week. Against the defending champs. Who are snarling mad over losing the Community Shield. Who have a new striker whose every game without at least two goals will be panned by the critics. The last thing we'll see in week 1 of the Premier League is a mighty old fashioned tushy whompin of West Ham.

Foz Predicts: Manchester City 3-1

[sovereignstar v2]

City lost the Community Shield to Leicester last season, then followed it up with a dud to Spurs. And West Ham has been a bit of a bogey team as of late. I would not be surprised with a draw or loss to be honest. Pep limited preseason matches so as to not overwork the players, some of who will be struggling mightily with this Qatar World Cup bullshit. We won't be clicking on all cylinders until September most likely.

[flere-imsaho]

My educated guess is they need to balance the books.

It's this. (https://www.thefootballboardroom.com/2022/03/26/leicester-city-finances-2021-fantastic-foxes/#:~:text=Leicester%20City%20FC%20Finances%20%E2%80%93%20Revenue,recognised%20in%202020%2F21).)

They haven't made an operating profit since 2017. Which isn't the end of the world, really, as long as they don't get too far over their skis. So they need sales to fund purchases.

Honestly, I'd take the news as more of a good thing than a bad thing. Plenty of mid-table teams make a gamble that they can overspend and then make it up by qualifying for the UCL and then when they miss they get into huge financial trouble which screws them up for years. What Leicester's doing is a sign that they know what the safe road to take it, and aren't going to jeopardize their position.

Manchester United vs Brighton (9:00 AM)

Speaking of teams that "Eff I know what's going to happen", helloooooo Manchester United! After an offseason where Cristiano Ronaldo tried to flog himself to every champions league under the sun and tried to pull the petulant star power move of leaving a preseason game at halftime after being substituted, but he's not going anywhere. At least for now. New manager, new system, and well (waves vaguely at the fans wanting the Glazers under the Guillotines). In short, this fixture is a whole truckload of banana peels for the Red Devils. I don't think it's a complete wind up, but to the Red Devils fans, a draw is as good as a loss, so let's go for that.

Foz Prediction: 2-2 draw

Just a reminder that this fixture ended 4-0 in favor of Brighton last May.

I'm watching all the Ten Hag stuff with a creeping sense of dread. It's all positives of how he's getting the team to "buy in" and whatnot, but there's still a gaping hole in the bottom of the midfield that's been there since Carrick retired and has only grown in importance in the modern game.

[MIJB#19]

I meant to write this for a couple of weeks now: FC Barcelona has turned into the new Real Madrid in terms of asshole-ish player management.

[sovereignstar v2]

https://twitter.com/Millar_Colin/status/1555594464508395523

[miami_fan]

I meant to write this for a couple of weeks now: FC Barcelona has turned into the new Real Madrid in terms of asshole-ish player management.

The club really has become an embarrassment. None of it makes any sense unless the plan is to sell it to a nation state that write off all debt or run it out of business.

[miami_fan]

I beg of you Fulham FC. Stop holding Tim Ream hostage and allow him to retire or to go to a EFL club.

That is a positive way of me saying Tim Ream is not a starting center back for a Premier League team.

Also, who thought bringing in Bobby Madley to referee in the EPL was a good guy?

[SirFozzie]

Well, only called three results right so far, but at least two of them was the right score-result. Small blessings.

[Ksyrup]

I probably posted the same thing a year ago, but I really appreciate the EPL knowing its North American audience so well that it continues to shoot itself in the foot. Any diehard EPL fan has likely bought Peacock. Every other NA sport celebrates its season opening by televising a bunch of games on opening day/weekend and giving complimentary access to their main PPV packages. Instead, EPL buries 2 of 10 games on USA Network and only 1 game on Saturday/Sunday. Ridiculous. Meanwhile, surfing around on Saturday afternoon I see Bundesliga airing on frickin ABC.

WTG, EPL and NBC!

[sovereignstar v2]

I remember the beginning of EPL and NBC. I had DirecTV and was able to DVR every match every week. That was 9 years ago. I think only half the matches were on extra/overrun channels.

[bhlloy]

Ten Haag is either making a deliberate point to the Glazers or he’s not lasting more than half a season. A center midfield of Fred and McTominay is probably a bottom 5 midfield in the prem… and that might be generous.

[Ksyrup]

Glad I didn't get to watch Leicester anyway. Continuation from last year, blowing leads. So predictable.

[sovereignstar v2]

You love to see ithttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220807/c67099c42427639946497d856b648519.jpg

[miami_fan]

Ten Haag is either making a deliberate point to the Glazers or he’s not lasting more than half a season. A center midfield of Fred and McTominay is probably a bottom 5 midfield in the prem… and that might be generous.

To be fair, who else is supposed to do the running for everyone upfront along with Fernandes AND protect Matt Maguire from being exposed? I am not even trying to slag off Maguire either. He is not a bad defender. He just can't be left out on an island while everyone is bombing forward. The fact that they have not bought a DM to move both of them to the bench is a failure of the board once again.

[SirFozzie]

90 Points from Week 1, as I called five match results right, with two exact scores. Let's make it into triple digits in round 2, ya?

Saturday

Aston Villa-Everton : Everton aren't very good at all, still. But they were much less disappointing than Villa was in week 1.

Foz Prediction: 1-1 draw

Arsenal-Leicester City: Leicester blew a two goal lead against Brentford. It's very unlikely they'll have a chance to blow a two goal lead against the Gunners.

Foz Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion-Newcastle United: Brighton outplayed ManYoo in week 1, this week, they face a Real United. Newcastle looked very good, and I think Newcastle will make it two for two.

Foz Prediction: 2-1 Newcastle

Manchester City-AFC Bournemouth: Bournemouth got the somewhat surprise win last week, but until further notice, picking against Man City to drop points is a stupid idea, and shouldn't be done.

Foz Prediction: 3-0 Manchester City

Southampton-Leeds United: Leeds were somewhat fortunate to get the three points last week against Wolves, but another victory here would be big, six points in the bank from 2 would go a long way towards easing relegation concerns early in the year. I don't think it's going to quite happen, mind you, but it could. And wouldn't that be a cool surprise.

Foz Prediction: 1-1 draw

Wolverhampton Wanderers-Fulham: Fulham looked much better than expected in leading Pool twice, only to be caught at the end for a draw. Wolves.. well.. they lost to Leeds, despite looking decent. I wonder about a big match hangover for the Cottagers, but.. until Wolves give me a reason to pick them, I can't take them to take all three.

Foz Prediction: 0-0 Draw

Brentford-Manchester United: All hail the conquering heroes of.. Wait. Nevermind. All hail the conquered Manchester United, who apparently have woken up to the fact that, well.. they're not very good right now. So they're wildly reaching out and trying to grab replacements and reinforcements. The time to do that was before the season started, fellas. This is going to PROBABLY make me look bad (not that it needs much for me to do so...) but...

Foz Prediction: Brentford 1-0


Sunday

Nottingham Forest-West Ham United: The Hammers weren't bad against City, they just are nowhere near as rich/talented. Forest should be an easier game, but easier does not necessarily mean easy. When in doubt, go with the favorites:

Foz Prediction: West Ham 1-0


Chelsea-Tottenham: mmmm.. early season derby. Spicy. Tottenham looked really good week 1. Chelsea.. did not. Chelsea are still disjointed and Tottenham are pretty settled in. Spurs to take it by the odd goal and raise their spirits higher

Foz Prediction: Tottenham 2-1


Monday

Liverpool-Crystal Palace Liverpool did not look exactly sharp against Fulham on week 1, but they got goals old and new (Salah and Nunez) to come back twice. I'm going to back them to do much better in week 2

Foz Prediction: 2-0 Liverpool

[sovereignstar v2]

Marko Arnautović??

[flere-imsaho]

I'm watching all the Ten Hag stuff with a creeping sense of dread. It's all positives of how he's getting the team to "buy in" and whatnot, but there's still a gaping hole in the bottom of the midfield that's been there since Carrick retired and has only grown in importance in the modern game.

Yep.

Read a comment on The Athletic that Brighton (who are a good and well-coached team) lost two key contributors from their midfield over the summer and were still better than McFred.

[flere-imsaho]

You love to see it

Like Thanos, Manchester City are now inevitable. And also evil.

[flere-imsaho]

Ten Haag is either making a deliberate point to the Glazers or he’s not lasting more than half a season. A center midfield of Fred and McTominay is probably a bottom 5 midfield in the prem… and that might be generous.

To be fair, who else is supposed to do the running for everyone upfront along with Fernandes AND protect Matt Maguire from being exposed? I am not even trying to slag off Maguire either. He is not a bad defender. He just can't be left out on an island while everyone is bombing forward. The fact that they have not bought a DM to move both of them to the bench is a failure of the board once again.

This is the third year in a row that the "starting" double pivot (assuming a 4-2-3-1, which has been pretty standard) is McFred. I'm not sure either of these start for any other EPL midfield except maybe the newly-promoted sides. But they're in good company because you could say that about a fair number of the side.

This is what happens when no one who understands football is in charge. The number of incredibly poor decisions that have been made because there is no consistent strategy is mind-boggling, especially when you look at how other clubs operate on these principles, with Manchester City and Liverpool being the paragons, of course.

Example 1: Maguire is a perfectly fine battling defender who excelled in the low block at Leicester where his size & strength were put to good use. He's terrible when asked to play a high line because he doesn't have the pace or agility to do it.

Example 2: Fullbacks comfortable in attack and defense have been increasingly important over the past 10 years. United spent 50M on AWB, who has never developed a comfort level going forward. He's a good to great defending fullback for a side that is expecting to be pinned back on a regular basis, but is not going to take that side forward.

Example 3: Competent holding midfielders have been pretty much a necessity in the modern game for, again, at least 10 years. Michael Carrick's last really full season was 10 years ago and although he officially retired from playing in 2018, he had only two appearances that year. Throughout all that time no adequate replacement has ever been pursued or contemplated. So you get the leaky sieve of McFred putting the inadequate defense under even more pressure, and attacking players like Fernandes routinely having to come incredibly deep to restart play.

The whole club is now a disaster from top to bottom. A truly dysfunctional organization with no obvious path forward. I wish Ten Hag the best, but I strongly suspect this will be another lost season of shipping ridiculous goals, being out-controlled in midfield by everyone, and only randomness in attack. Plus we likely have a whole Ronaldo want-away saga to get through which could easily last through the January window (when hopefully some team with UCL ambitions will get desperate and the fact that he couldn't be registered for the UCL will be a bonus big enough to overlook his enormous wages).

[SirFozzie]

Barcelona:

Mes que un shitshow.

https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1556583526778249216

short version: They're trying to threaten their own player with criminal charges.

The crime? Comes out of signing a renewal (that would see him earn back money they agreed to give to keep the club from bankruptcy during COVID) in 2020. They are alleging some "Criminal happenings" between the old board and de Jong, so they want de Jong to go back to his agreed to paycut deal (costing him $18 million) or face a criminal investigation. (They do not explain what the criminal happenings are in their letter)

Bonus stupidity: There's additional news today that the reason that Barcelona's new players can't be registered is that Barcelona tried to play the shell game, when they sold their TV rights, they sold it to a company they are 50% owners of. This allowed them to "book" an extra $150 million in "profit", that would allow them to register new players under LaLiga financial rules. La Liga said "No, that's literally just moving money from your front pocket to your back pocket, there's no new money on hand here". To make things worse, since they registered the $150 million as profit, it then becomes taxable under Spanish rules. So, they have to pay like 25% of that $150 million they gave themselves as "profit"to the taxman.

So they may have paid nearly $40 million for no benefit at all.

At this point, they're weaponizing a "We're too big to fail" speedrun

[bhlloy]

You'll get no argument from me that the owners and directors at United are solely to blame for the shitshow that their squad is... for now. The fact that somehow one of the biggest clubs in the world has multiple positions in which you can argue they don't have a starting option who would be in the top two-thirds of the Prem is unforgivable.

With that being said, managers can adapt their tactics and style to the players available to them. The fact that Ten Haag decided to play McFred in his Ajax tactical framework having seen them in training for months now and how they've played the last few years, he's either making a point to the board or he's just not going to be a success. The options to rebuild a midfield before the transfer window shuts are not currently out there. So he's either going to figure it out and change, or they are going to be in the bottom half of the table and he's not finishing the year out.

[MIJB#19]

Barcelona:

Mes que un shitshow.They should have learned from how Manchester City and Paris SG get away with spending money they don't have, except that their creative book keeping won't be allowed in Spain. Still, FC Barcelona has earned the place in the cheaters clique, working hard to reach the Real Madrid and Juventus top tier level.

[miami_fan]

You'll get no argument from me that the owners and directors at United are solely to blame for the shitshow that their squad is... for now. The fact that somehow one of the biggest clubs in the world has multiple positions in which you can argue they don't have a starting option who would be in the top two-thirds of the Prem is unforgivable.

With that being said, managers can adapt their tactics and style to the players available to them. The fact that Ten Haag decided to play McFred in his Ajax tactical framework having seen them in training for months now and how they've played the last few years, he's either making a point to the board or he's just not going to be a success. The options to rebuild a midfield before the transfer window shuts are not currently out there. So he's either going to figure it out and change, or they are going to be in the bottom half of the table and he's not finishing the year out.

I believe he is absolutely making a point. Manchester United brought him in to play the Ajax tactical style and make everyone adapt to him. not for him to adapt to the pieces they currently have. Manchester City did the same for Pep, Liverpool did the same for Klopp, and Spurs did the same for Conte this summer. To use a much smaller club as an example, look at what Burnley did this summer. Vincent Kompany does not set up his team the same way that Sean Dyche did. So when Burnley hired Kompany, the club knew his system was different. The board know they had to get rid of players who only fit Dyche's system and bring in players to fit Kompany's system. The board replaced at least half of last year's squad. Manchester United may need to take a few steps while they get rid of the current dross in the squad and slowly bring in Ten Haag's players. I don't see both of them playing together too much longer since I don't expect Christian Eriksen to be leading the line anymore. But if playing McFred and watching them be terrible gets the board to bring in the players he wants and fits what he is trying to do, that is what he needs to do.

[flere-imsaho]

You love to see it

I got a chance to watch that second goal and it's just as I feared when the rumors of his signing started: the combination of City's ability to move defenses out of shape and then lay on perfect passes with Haaland's exceptional positioning plus explosive pace plus ruthless finishing is going to make life for their opponents really rough this year.

[flere-imsaho]

@miami_fan: couldn't agree more.

If you watch the Manchester City doc on Amazon from a few years back (I think it was in Pep's second season), it is really clear how thoroughly the entire organization, from the board to the catering staff, is set up to achieve Pep's vision.

There's a great scene where several execs are discussing the search for a central defender (who ends up being Laporte) and they are able to talk about what exactly Guardiola is looking for when he's not even there.

You can definitely see the same at other clubs, like the ones you mention, and I think another way you can see it is that those relatively well-run clubs get their signings done early in the transfer window and increasingly it's a lot of players you might not have thought of but are clearly the result of well-run and well-drilled (in the manager's playing philosophy) analytics & scouting teams.

Nothing like this exists at Manchester United. The Glazers are content to milk the cash cow, like they do for Tampa Bay (where the socialism of the NFL saves them from something like relegation) and wait for their Tom Brady to show up and win them a championship or two.

[sovereignstar v2]

I got a chance to watch that second goal and it's just as I feared when the rumors of his signing started: the combination of City's ability to move defenses out of shape and then lay on perfect passes with Haaland's exceptional positioning plus explosive pace plus ruthless finishing is going to make life for their opponents really rough this year.

He's a physical specimen. The only thing that could derail him are injuries. I remember when someone at the City fan forum compared him to Edin Dzeko and I was like are you kidding me. Edin Dzeko cannot run like this. Haaland is the one who get the clearing header on the corner.

Haaland Incredible world record worthy sprint against PSG - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADnHcqEjUhQ)

There is a similar video where he does end up getting the pass and goal, but I think this one is better. What was great about Sunday is it showed how he can get his favored goals on the break, but also be dangerous when teams are sitting back like West Ham were in the first half.

[flere-imsaho]

but also be dangerous when teams are sitting back like West Ham were in the first half.

Yeah, that's definitely the holy grail there.

Hopefully he stays injury free.

[flere-imsaho]

Manchester United out here showing everyone how not to execute a transfer window.

[bhlloy]

You misspelled “decade”

[Ksyrup]

Leicester has managed to replay its entire 2021-22 season in the first two games this year.

But at least they aren't MU.

[sovereignstar v2]

I knew there was a good reason to tune into the late match.

[SirFozzie]

LOL Manchester "United"

[miami_fan]

So Southampton is feeling a bit threatened by this performance by Manchester United.

[bhlloy]

This is some of the best entertainment in a long time

[sovereignstar v2]

Not in my lifetime.

[flere-imsaho]

I'll take relegation at this point if it means the Glazers sell up.

[Critch]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FaDwY9kWYAE8k3k?format=jpg&name=small

[sovereignstar v2]

I'm starting to have an unhealthy obsession with this lass.

https://youtu.be/hl11Af25ndQ

[miami_fan]

I'll take relegation at this point if it means the Glazers sell up.

Why do you have a problem with the Glazers? I believe the Glazer ownership is problematic but I don't think a change of ownership will solve what is ailing the club on the pitch.

[sovereignstar v2]

The only way new owners help is if they completely clean house. They need to fuck Ferguson off and just about any person that has made decisions or had influence at the club in the last 10 years.

I can't remember the last time they made a great transfer. Van Persie? I swear that a large part of their transfer policy has been to take note who City show interest in and outbid or offer higher wages. But their players never improve.

They have a decent manager now, but their squad (which has to be near or at the top of money spent on) is 95% shit. It needs to be completely overhauled. Why do they have De Gea playing out from the back? Pep came to City and one of the first things he did was ship Joe Hart out.

At this point they are a mid-table club and probably 4-5 years from seriously competing for anything if they start acting now (spoiler alert: they won't).

[bhlloy]

Do we know they’ve now got a decent manager? Ten Haag played some great stuff and won some big games at Ajax, but so did Frank De Boer and he flopped about as hard as possible in Italy and England couldn’t even succeed in MLS after. And his one big money signing so far who everyone said might not be able to succeed at center back in the prem has looked worse than I think the haters would have hoped so far.

Obviously it’s ridiculously early but I don’t think you are feeling great so far as a United fan.

[miami_fan]

Ah yes, now that Covid has disappeared, handshake controversy is back.

[sovereignstar v2]

Spurs snatch a point because of more terrible refereeing and VAR. Cucarella is yanked down by his hair during a corner kick. Clear as day and no free kick/card/sending off or whatever. Spurs score on ensuing corner.

[bhlloy]

Absolutely disgraceful refereeing, from England's world cup referee no less. I like that the Prem lets VAR impact the game less, but he just completely lost the plot of that game after he inexplicably just decided to stop calling fouls starting with the first Spurs goal.

[miami_fan]

Do we know they’ve now got a decent manager? Ten Haag played some great stuff and won some big games at Ajax, but so did Frank De Boer and he flopped about as hard as possible in Italy and England couldn’t even succeed in MLS after. And his one big money signing so far who everyone said might not be able to succeed at center back in the prem has looked worse than I think the haters would have hoped so far.

Obviously it’s ridiculously early but I don’t think you are feeling great so far as a United fan.

For some United fans, unless Sir Alex and David Gil are coming back to their respective posts, there will never be another decent manager at Old Trafford again. I believe that Ten Hag is a decent manager. I also believe that Ole, Jose, Van Gaal and Moyes are or were decent managers when they managed Manchester United.

I know sov is a biased Manchester City fan but I think he is mostly right in this case. At some point, someone has to decide what the plan is for Manchester United going forward. The fact that everyone on the football side has let it get to this point disqualifies them from being a part of that side moving forward. They got their feelings hurt when Rangnick said what needed to be done. I don't care if he was not the person to say it or be in charge of the reorganization. He was correct in his assessment of the club. I don't think it necessarily needs to take five years though. I think the structure could be put in place this year and United could be competing for titles by year 3 of Ten Hag's United tenure if significant changes are put into place now.

[MIJB#19]

Do we know they’ve now got a decent manager? Ten Haag played some great stuff and won some big games at Ajax, but so did Frank De Boer and he flopped about as hard as possible in Italy and England couldn’t even succeed in MLS after. And his one big money signing so far who everyone said might not be able to succeed at center back in the prem has looked worse than I think the haters would have hoped so far.

Obviously it’s ridiculously early but I don’t think you are feeling great so far as a United fan.There is no comparison for two reasons. Firstly, as a coach, Erik ten Hag (not "Haag") has a much better track record than Frank de Boer.
But more importantly, neither De Boer or Ten Hag had a track record as a manager to speak of, as that's a completely separate job at Ajax and pretty much every football club in the Netherlands. Quite simply, Ten Hag has no experience in the management line of work.

[flere-imsaho]

Why do you have a problem with the Glazers? I believe the Glazer ownership is problematic but I don't think a change of ownership will solve what is ailing the club on the pitch.

This guy actually summed it up pretty well:

At some point, someone has to decide what the plan is for Manchester United going forward. The fact that everyone on the football side has let it get to this point disqualifies them from being a part of that side moving forward. They got their feelings hurt when Rangnick said what needed to be done. I don't care if he was not the person to say it or be in charge of the reorganization. He was correct in his assessment of the club.

:D

IMO, all of this comes back to the owners. Successful clubs, by and large, like successful organizations in other spheres, set up a structure of people who know what they're doing, establish clear goals, and ensure that everyone stays committed to and focused on those goals.

Just compare and contrast to how the hierarchy is set up at both Man City and Liverpool, for instance.

The Glazers, instead, put Woodward in charge, who had no idea what he was doing. He then hired a series of dramatically different managers under what we must guess was an assumption that if you just find someone good enough, they'll make the whole thing work, like Fergie did. But a) Fergie had Gill and 20+ years of building the institution and b) these clubs are now simply too big for someone to run the whole thing. Even Guardiola & Klopp don't run the whole thing.

Worse, without some sort of footballing vision, those dramatically different managers have left United with a playing squad that doesn't work well together.

Take Aaron Wan-Bissaka, for instance. He excelled at Crystal Palace because his excellent one-on-one defense suited a club that would routinely be overwhelmed by better opponents. However, in the modern game, top clubs need fullbacks who have attacking skills, which he clearly did not, and still does not, have. Nevertheless, he worked OK/well for Solskjaer because Solskjaer was playing a mainly reactive counter-attacking system. But when you bring in a "modern" tactical coach like ETH, who is looking to play a high line and needs attacking full backs to spread the field and provide creative options, AWB is a liability.

I don't need the Glazers to know about football. Goodness knows John Henry didn't when he bought Liverpool and the same is true for Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Sheik Mansour.

What I need is for them to hire highly competent people who have specialist experience in managing football clubs and let them go and do that. Arnold, an accountant, is not that. Murtough, for all his experience in development and sports science, is showing from his choices since he got the job from Woodward, that he is not up to the task. And anyway, why would we think Woodward's right-hand man would be the answer? Fletcher has far too little experience. Compare these to their counterparts at the other top EPL clubs, and even mid-table ones like Brighton, and they come up very short.

So, why do I have a problem with the Glazers? Because clearly none of this changes while they own the club. It's been 10 years since Ferguson retired. They've shown no ability to learn from experience and move the club in the direction of a modern club. And why would they? They inherited everything from their father. They've never built anything themselves. They've never had to do the really hard work of buckling down and making something work that is not working, because they were born into wealth and have stayed in wealth. I have very little faith that any of this will change.

There is no comparison for two reasons. Firstly, as a coach, Erik ten Hag (not "Haag") has a much better track record than Frank de Boer.
But more importantly, neither De Boer or Ten Hag had a track record as a manager to speak of, as that's a completely separate job at Ajax and pretty much every football club in the Netherlands. Quite simply, Ten Hag has no experience in the management line of work.

This is a really good point. A lot of the stuff with which ETH is struggling are the greater "management" scope he didn't have to do at Ajax. And that's really bad at Man Utd because no one else in the organization really knows what they're doing so just like all of the appointments since Moyes, the hierarchy is looking for him to fix everything.

To be honest, I'm not even sure Guardiola, Klopp, Conte, Tuchel, Ancelotti, etc... would be able to succeed at Man Utd the way things are now.

[sovereignstar v2]

United starting to get linked with everyone and their mother now. Panic setting in. They are going to have to throw heavy wages around to get any sort of quality. Like FDJ type wages, but not himself because who would want to move to United if you are under contract with Barcelona.

[MIJB#19]

United starting to get linked with everyone and their mother now. Panic setting in. They are going to have to throw heavy wages around to get any sort of quality. Like FDJ type wages, but not himself because who would want to move to United if you are under contract with Barcelona.Manchester and Barcelona both really are not the places to be in football at this moment in time, unless it's Skyblue feeling like burning another $40M on you as they laugh at the FA's miserable attempt to install any kind of financial fair play.

[sovereignstar v2]

Oh, it's you again. Interesting timing as City made a very net positive this transfer window. Income is up there with all the top clubs and the club is self-sustainable.

I'm sorry to inform you that financial fair play was only established to keep the cartel safe. It's safe now, but only after what is now one of the most well-run clubs from top to bottom snuck in. Peace!

[flere-imsaho]

United starting to get linked with everyone and their mother now. Panic setting in.

To be fair, every transfer window since SAF & Gill left has felt like this. Remember them signing Fellaini for 4M more than his release clause because Woodward & Moyes thought they could get him for less? (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/03/manchester-united-marouane-fellaini-everton)

It's been 10 fucking years and still no one has any idea what they're doing.

[miami_fan]

I know it is just the 5th place team from the Danish SuperLiga so many won't see it as a big deal. I know it is just Africans players so many won't see it as a big deal. However, this is BS and UEFA should be embarrassed that this was allowed to happen.

Viborg lose two African players for West Ham playoff due to UK entry rules | Europa Conference League | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/aug/17/viborg-lose-two-african-players-for-west-ham-playoff-due-to-visa-problems).

[flere-imsaho]

That's utterly ridiculous.

[Critch]

70mil for a 30 year old Casemiro is ridiculous too. Plus a huge salary til he's 35.

[flere-imsaho]

Yes, that's also ridiculous.

[flere-imsaho]

To give another example, a few years ago N'Golo Kante was out of favor at Chelsea. Man Utd had Paul Pogba in the side. In the French side, it was clear that Kante's contributions were a big part of the reason why Pogba performed a lot better for France than Utd (it wasn't all that, but still).

At the time, Utd could have swooped in and solved a pretty big problem, but you never, ever, ever heard about them considering it.

[flere-imsaho]

Well, at least they're being consistent. This is an organization that replaced Carrick with Schneiderlin, who was clearly not up to the task, and then pivoted to Matic, who was too old and slow to do the task, and now they'll have Casemiro who, given that Real Madrid have already signed and bedded in his replacements, is likely to be unable to perform at an EPL level in short order.

Some decent shade from Ancelotti, announcing Casemiro's departure today:

Casemiro's teammates understand his decision, they respect it - it was his will to try a new challenge and we have to accept it. I can't reply to why Casemiro traded European Champions for a struggling side, it's his personal decision.

[bhlloy]

The counterpoint is if United don’t sign somebody in midfield, they are in genuine danger of being in a relegation battle.

Is that salary and wage outrageous… of course it is. But in a world where Gibbs-White goes for 25m plus maybe another 20m in addons, I’m not sure it’s in a class of its own. Prices are back to crazy post Covid it seems.

[flere-imsaho]

To be clear, I'm not saying they shouldn't sign Casemiro right now. I'm saying they shouldn't be in a position where they need to do these panic buys at the end of the summer transfer window. And, additionally, they shouldn't be chronically in a position where they need to do these panic buys at the end of either the summer or January window.

For the amount they're paying for Casemiro and were prepared to pay for Antony (a highly-rated young player from the Eredivisie, where have we heard that before (https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/memphis-depay-man-utd-struggles-24367645)?), they probably could have bought Declan Rice, a proven operator in the EPL at the base of midfield.


I mean, back in January (and honestly before), anyone who follows this club knew they needed / would need (with pending summer departures) the following in order of priority:

1. A holding midfielder in the Carrick / Thiago / Rodri mould.

2. A right back who can attack and defend competently at an EPL level.

3. At least cover at center forward given the pending departure of Cavani, the continuing underwhelming of Martial, and Ronaldo being 37 (even if you don't want to make the argument that he's not right for the team, which is an argument I'm more than willing to make), if not an upgrade.

4. A definitive EPL-ready upgrade at centre back.

5. Competition for Shaw at left back.

6. More creativity and quality in attacking midfield.


We're sitting here in August and:

1. Casemiro, a short-term solution (assuming he doesn't immediately drop off like Schweinsteiger did) on a long-term contract from which United will definitely not be able to move him on.

2. Nope.

3. Nope, though I'm sure a panic buy is incoming, or maybe another winger/inside forward (e.g. Pulisic) will be signed instead.

4. Jury's out on Martinez.

5. Jury's out on Malacia.

6. Eriksen. Nailed this one. Congrats.


If my boss gave me a list of 6 assignments in January and I nailed one, completed another way over budget, had to convince him I completed two, and whiffed on the other two, I'm reasonably sure I'd be fired.

[sovereignstar v2]

Casemiro is a good player, but doesn't seem like an ETH player. It does reek of a desperation buy to appease the fans, but I suppose they had to do something. I just never know what their plan is.

[Ksyrup]

I suppose there comes a point where it becomes (or is) financially irresponsible NOT to sell Fofana, but Leicester better not go on a full sell-off because this team looks like it's going to be fighting to stay in the top 12, at best. And a few injuries and balls dropping the wrong way and its a bottom 5 squad. I've never seen a team (the past couple of years) so uncomfortable playing with a lead, or even after scoring. They almost always give goals back and/or blow leads. Blech.

[miami_fan]

I suppose there comes a point where it becomes (or is) financially irresponsible NOT to sell Fofana, but Leicester better not go on a full sell-off because this team looks like it's going to be fighting to stay in the top 12, at best. And a few injuries and balls dropping the wrong way and its a bottom 5 squad. I've never seen a team (the past couple of years) so uncomfortable playing with a lead, or even after scoring. They almost always give goals back and/or blow leads. Blech.

Top 12 is being generous for LCFC at this point. To be fair, I am seeing a team finishing closer to 15th so not a huge difference. I still have confidence that they will bring a few players. The financial might of the EPL will always allow LCFC to go to mid table to bottom feeders and even some of the top four in the other top leagues and make them offers they can not refuse. Of course that is contingent that they make that one big sale.

[Ksyrup]

I suppose it's my North American sports fan cynicism that makes me question how any top tier soccer team can lose money. So many global revenue streams, it's hard not to believe they are hiding profits somewhere. I refuse to believe only US owners do it.

[miami_fan]

To be clear, I'm not saying they shouldn't sign Casemiro right now. I'm saying they shouldn't be in a position where they need to do these panic buys at the end of the summer transfer window. And, additionally, they shouldn't be chronically in a position where they need to do these panic buys at the end of either the summer or January window.

For the amount they're paying for Casemiro and were prepared to pay for Antony (a highly-rated young player from the Eredivisie, where have we heard that before (https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/memphis-depay-man-utd-struggles-24367645)?), they probably could have bought Declan Rice, a proven operator in the EPL at the base of midfield.


I mean, back in January (and honestly before), anyone who follows this club knew they needed / would need (with pending summer departures) the following in order of priority:

1. A holding midfielder in the Carrick / Thiago / Rodri mould.

2. A right back who can attack and defend competently at an EPL level.

3. At least cover at center forward given the pending departure of Cavani, the continuing underwhelming of Martial, and Ronaldo being 37 (even if you don't want to make the argument that he's not right for the team, which is an argument I'm more than willing to make), if not an upgrade.

4. A definitive EPL-ready upgrade at centre back.

5. Competition for Shaw at left back.

6. More creativity and quality in attacking midfield.


We're sitting here in August and:

1. Casemiro, a short-term solution (assuming he doesn't immediately drop off like Schweinsteiger did) on a long-term contract from which United will definitely not be able to move him on.

2. Nope.

3. Nope, though I'm sure a panic buy is incoming, or maybe another winger/inside forward (e.g. Pulisic) will be signed instead.

4. Jury's out on Martinez.

5. Jury's out on Malacia.

6. Eriksen. Nailed this one. Congrats.


If my boss gave me a list of 6 assignments in January and I nailed one, completed another way over budget, had to convince him I completed two, and whiffed on the other two, I'm reasonably sure I'd be fired.

Without even getting into the FFP considerations, the problem United still has is getting rid of the dead weight on the squad. For example, you already outlined how Real Madrid dealt with the loss of Casemiro before he had even left the club. Now that Casemiro at United, who's leaving? What club is paying for the privilege of taking Fred, Mctominay, or maybe Van de Beek off of Manchester United's hands. All of them can't be Casemiro's backup. That is over $80 million just rotting away on the bench. I guess you can send them to training with the kids or pull a Barcelona to try to force them out. It is the same for most of the positions you outlined. They have only been able to make $65 million in the last three season including the current one. Half of that was made sending Daniel James to Leeds.

The Casemiro signing brings in a quality player that fills an immediate need. As bhlloy said, it is not as over the top as some of the signings we are seeing. Hopefully there is a youngster in the squad or the academy who can serve as Casemiro's understudy in the cups and dead rubber European games while one of the McFred De Beek can provide occasional backup as well. I have no idea what they have in the youth ranks. My goal for this year would be to try and trim the roster as much as possible, bring in maybe one more mid range striker and fill in the rest with the youth as see where I am next summer. Hopefully, they will be serious about changing the culture of the club.

[MIJB#19]

I suppose it's my North American sports fan cynicism that makes me question how any top tier soccer team can lose money. So many global revenue streams, it's hard not to believe they are hiding profits somewhere. I refuse to believe only US owners do it.Nothing North American about it, it certainly is silly how there's going so much money around in the top flight of this sport and all but maybe FC Bayern are virtually bankrupt. The average fan just looks away, or pretends that only their own club isn't doing shady things.

[MIJB#19]

70mil for a 30 year old Casemiro is ridiculous too. Plus a huge salary til he's 35.When Manchester City bought Erling Haaland for roughly €60M, there and then the absolute maximum for any player to be this summer transfer window was set. No player in the world is worth more than him, or maybe Kylian Mbappe is on the same level.

Honestly, this is not another one of my complaints about Manchester City. When the biggest spender in the world buys the most promising striker in the world, then that that figure should be the absolute roof for everything that happens after that. It should have snowballed into all transfer fees getting lower, unintentionally it should have set the new standard of lowered insanity.

But it didn't.

Real Madrid spent €80M on a no-name defensive midfielder and managed to got €70M of that spending back from Manchester United for a defensive midfielder with no resell value.

Liverpool spent $75M on the top goal scorer from a second tier league.

Chelsea spent €65M on a no-name wingback.

And the list goes on and on...

[flere-imsaho]

I suppose it's my North American sports fan cynicism that makes me question how any top tier soccer team can lose money. So many global revenue streams, it's hard not to believe they are hiding profits somewhere. I refuse to believe only US owners do it.

Simple: there's no salary cap.

[flere-imsaho]

I thought the only reason that Haaland was 60M was because he had a release clause at that amount that kicked in after his first year?

[SirFozzie]

Plus in American leagues, there's minimal danger in being bad. In other soccer leagues, you are one of the worst teams, you don't get a pat on the head and some extra goodies to make you try harder next time, you get shoved down a trap door and told to climb back up again... if you can.

Plus in recent years, the fans have become a lot more.. physical in demanding effort and investment in their teams.

[MIJB#19]

Simple: there's no salary cap.There certainly is one. The mess in Barcelona over the last two summers is the direct result of it. But in other countries the football association shies away from enforcing their own rules, or find themselves unable to prove that clubs tamper with their profit numbers, effectively the sky becomes the limit.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I thought the only reason that Haaland was 60M was because he had a release clause at that amount that kicked in after his first year?

Pretty much.

Tho with various fees, commissions, etc, it did swell to something just north of 80 million

[MIJB#19]

I thought the only reason that Haaland was 60M was because he had a release clause at that amount that kicked in after his first year?It was, without such a clause he would have cost €150M to €200M. My "should be the max" is too much wishful thinking there will ever be sanity in this world.

[miami_fan]

Simple: there's no salary cap.

This. I have already seen how Jerry Jones and that guy in Washington acted in an uncapped year.

Plus in American leagues, there's minimal danger in being bad. In other soccer leagues, you are one of the worst teams, you don't get a pat on the head and some extra goodies to make you try harder next time, you get shoved down a trap door and told to climb back up again... if you can.

Plus in recent years, the fans have become a lot more.. physical in demanding effort and investment in their teams.

And this. Norwich City were the worst team in the EPL, went down and the club lost at least $55 million dollars. The Jags were the worst team in the NFL, maintained their NFL status and everything that comes with that AND got the first chance to select from the country's best youth prospects in the sport. Prospects that the Jags did not have to develop themselves or pay another team for developing which leads me to..

It was, without such a clause he would have cost €150M to €200M. My "should be the max" is too much wishful thinking there will ever be sanity in this world.

Thought experiment. How much would teams pay for the registrations of the best players in their respective sport? Jokes aside, how much would an NBA team have paid Vincent-St. Mary High School for a Lebron James transfer? Especially considering a 17 year old Jude Bellingham garnered a $27.5 million to transfer from the third tier of English football to the Bundesliga. Would Dan Gilbert have preferred getting a $100 million transfer fee or whatever the draft compensation he got in the sign and trade with Miami? A small club like Green Bay would have no choice but to accept the record breaking fee for a 30 year old Aaron Rodgers from the Silicon Valley funded 49ers right? I mean we are sort of seeing this play out with NIL and college sports.

I get the frustration though.

[miami_fan]

Hey look at that, the Cottagers are in the Champions League if the season ended today:D

[Ksyrup]

Mendy... sheesh.

[flere-imsaho]

There certainly is one. The mess in Barcelona over the last two summers is the direct result of it. But in other countries the football association shies away from enforcing their own rules, or find themselves unable to prove that clubs tamper with their profit numbers, effectively the sky becomes the limit.

OK fine. Effectively, there is no salary cap.

Or, to go back to answering Ksyrup's question a little more directly, in most leagues*, there's no real guardrails to keep clubs from spending more than they can afford, and conversely a lot of incentive to do just that in chasing the more money available in either a) the top league in their country and/or b) UCL money.


*probably not the Bundesliga

[HomerSimpson98]

Those were 2 fun matches to take in on Sunday. Highly entertaining

[bhlloy]

Liverpool look like they’ve fallen into the FM trap where you don’t want to let your team leaders go and destroy your team cohesion, so you hang onto them as key squad players for a season too long. Both Henderson and Milner look well off the pace at this level tonight.

[sovereignstar v2]

UNITED. ARE. BACK.

[sovereignstar v2]

Glazers IN

[miami_fan]

Let's overreact shall we?

I heard Manchester United were pretty good in the preseason. Everything seemed to be going okay. The first two games of the season, they were horrible. The third game, they played pretty well again.

Hmmm, I wonder what was different between the preseason and this game and the first two games.

[sovereignstar v2]

Let's overreact shall we?

I heard Manchester United were pretty good in the preseason. Everything seemed to be going okay. The first two games of the season, they were horrible. The third game, they played pretty well again.

Hmmm, I wonder what was different between the preseason and this game and the first two games.

I'm stumped. Unless it's supporters threw beer and shouted 'murderers' at a bus full of young United supporters.

https://twitter.com/BeelineVIPcoach/status/1561774557706567685

[MIJB#19]

OK fine. Effectively, there is no salary cap.

Or, to go back to answering Ksyrup's question a little more directly, in most leagues*, there's no real guardrails to keep clubs from spending more than they can afford, and conversely a lot of incentive to do just that in chasing the more money available in either a) the top league in their country and/or b) UCL money.


*probably not the BundesligaSorry about my semantics blahblah. Essentially I agree that your point stands. Leagues proclaim to have salary roofs, but in reality the "super league" clubs are not held to them.

[flere-imsaho]

Let's overreact shall we?

Quite.

Manchester United, a team that has historically been pretty good playing counter-attacking football (including almost exclusively under Solskjaer), manages a win against a heavily depleted Liverpool squad that only plays a high pressing game and is thus susceptible to good counter-attacking teams.

If Thiago or Fabinho play this game at the base of midfield, this is likely a different result. If one of those play and Nunez isn't suspended, this is likely a very different result. On that second point, Michael Cox on the Athletic pointed out that Firmino's tendency to play super-deep actually took pressure off of United's to-date weak center midfield & center defense.

While the fan in me hopes this is the start of a renaissance, my head is not quite sure.

Having said that, kudos to ETH for dropping Maguire, who clearly has lost his confidence, and for dropping Ronaldo, whose absence opened up a ton of space for the four forward players to exploit.

[flere-imsaho]

Leagues proclaim to have salary roofs, but in reality the "super league" clubs are not held to them.

Agreed.

[sovereignstar v2]

.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/95c4e90963621277e1f8f34361675e8e.gif

[flere-imsaho]

:mad: (@ sovereignstar :P )

[sovereignstar v2]

He's such a beast.

https://streamja.com/zbqQN

[flere-imsaho]

I have one word for that Man City game and that word is ominous.

[flere-imsaho]

You really have to feel for Scott Parker and the rest of the Bournemouth AFC side, there.

[MrBug708]

I made the mistake of turning the Palace game on at halftime yesterday. Oops.

[MIJB#19]

For the amount they're paying for Casemiro and were prepared to pay for Antony (a highly-rated young player from the Eredivisie, where have we heard that before (https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/memphis-depay-man-utd-struggles-24367645)?), they probably could have bought Declan Rice, a proven operator in the EPL at the base of midfield.Antony has taken the prima donna approach and has missed today's and last weekend's Eredivisie games. Latest rumors are Manchester United has upped their bid to €95M for the kid. No, he's not worth that kind of money, especially not with that kind of attitude, or does he?

[flere-imsaho]

Manchester United's valuation of player targets seems to mainly be based on how much it'll take for the selling club to finally say "yes".

The Athletic pointed out that United's bench for the Southampton game cost over 300M (GBP) in transfer fees, and almost 200M of that never came off the bench in the game. Plus, only 7 players on that bench cost the club at least 1M in wages weekly.

It's kind of like the anti-moneyball.

[miami_fan]

Antony has taken the prima donna approach and has missed today's and last weekend's Eredivisie games. Latest rumors are Manchester United has upped their bid to €95M for the kid. No, he's not worth that kind of money, especially not with that kind of attitude, or does he?

The best part of the transfer for me is as of this post, Transfermarkt still shows that his valuation was 31.5 euros as of Jun 8 2022. So he tripled in transfer valuation in just over two months. He reportedly is now making ten times the salary he made with Ajax. I am not saying it is right in a sporting sense for him to sit out the games. However in a business sense, I think it was in the best interest of both Antony and Ajax that he not be injured in those games if this was the reward for both the player and the club.

I just spent a week in London. The only times I heard anyone being concerned with FFP were when they were complaining about Barcelona, wondering how Nottingham Forest could make so many transfers and complaining about Newcastle but that was only after they signed Alexander Isak.

[MIJB#19]

The best part of the transfer for me is as of this post, Transfermarkt still shows that his valuation was 31.5 euros as of Jun 8 2022. So he tripled in transfer valuation in just over two months. He reportedly is now making ten times the salary he made with Ajax. I am not saying it is right in a sporting sense for him to sit out the games. However in a business sense, I think it was in the best interest of both Antony and Ajax that he not be injured in those games if this was the reward for both the player and the club.Fair point, Antony is one of those players that gets hurt every 10 games. I'm sure Manchester United is aware of it, otherwise they would have spent the full €100M for him. :D

[flere-imsaho]

That's what the 5M in potential addons is for.

[sovereignstar v2]

Here we go. Midweek matches, weekend matches, then UCL starts next week. Haaland is going to be rotated, which is going to lower his chance to hit 100 league goals as I predicted internally.

[sovereignstar v2]

haaland

[sovereignstar v2]

lmao another hat trick

[flere-imsaho]

Three goals in 38 minutes, substituted after 68 in a 6-0 win. At least he was substituted for an untested academy youth... oh wait, Kevin De Bruyne came on for him.

Welp.

[sovereignstar v2]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ch9_2T1phIe/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

[miami_fan]

What is the American equivalent of the term " Chel-ski"?

[Critch]

Chel$ea?

[miami_fan]

Chel$ea?

Not derisive enough.

[Ksyrup]

Rogers has to go soon, right? It's apparent he hasn't been on the same page as management as far as money issues and it seems like he's pissed he stayed and this isn't a top 10 team. However, this team has the same flaws as last year plus the talent is headed in the wrong direction. It's like a mixture of entitled coach who won't change his tactics, failure to rectify defensive problems, disgruntled players, and Vardy is too old to play savior every game.

[miami_fan]

Rogers has to go soon, right? It's apparent he hasn't been on the same page as management as far as money issues and it seems like he's pissed he stayed and this isn't a top 10 team. However, this team has the same flaws as last year plus the talent is headed in the wrong direction. It's like a mixture of entitled coach who won't change his tactics, failure to rectify defensive problems, disgruntled players, and Vardy is too old to play savior every game.

I think that Rodgers should get a bit more time to try to rectify the flaws from last year. However, from the outside looking in when you combine that with the bitching about the transfer window, he should definitely go.

I don't know what the transfer policy structure is at Leicester City but as far as I can tell, everyone on that team either was brought in while Rodgers was there or had their contracts extended while Rodgers was there. If the talent is going in the wrong direction, that has to be on Rodgers in some part. I get Rodgers' frustrations about not being able to bring any players this window. However, they did bring in four first team squad players in 19/20, two in 20/21, four in 21/22, and only one this past window since Rodgers got there. They lost three players of real value. Harry McGuire in 19/20, Ben Chillwell in 2021 and Wesley Fofana this year. No disrespect to Kasper Schmeichel but I don't think he was of any real value to the club at this point.

So while he has not been backed this window, he has been backed since he got there. Those are his players on the pitch. They should be better right now. It's early, but for them to be at the bottom of the table at this point is embarrassing.

[flere-imsaho]

A club like Leicester has to work with the fact that their good players are going to be moving on regularly, and so the scouting/acquisition team needs to have long-term plans and contingencies. It sounds like that kind of setup is missing and Rodgers is maybe of the mindset that they should just be able to buy to replace whenever they need to, which simply isn't realistic.

It's a shame because in general this has been a well-run club.

[Ksyrup]

There's the first 6 games this year and his inability to grasp the situation (could the communication with management be that bad, or is he just pissed about the reality?), but then there's last year to factor in as far as on-field issues that the coaching staff hasn't fixed. Yeah, the finishing spot wasn't bad last year but they were terrible on set pieces and had an uncanny knack for giving up late leads and/or allowing goals within 5 minutes of scoring them. That continued right into game 1 this year.

[Ksyrup]

As far as Schmeichel, I think it is more about his replacement. Not sure what the numbers show after 6 games, but after 3 or 4 Ward was last in the PL in expected goals allowed. Today, I thought he was unsure and noncommittal on some plays where he could have possibly had a better chance at stopping a goal. And that doesn't even account for the screwup where his kick got blocked on a clearing pass and almost gave up another easy one - then got into it with Ndidi. From the little I've seen, he's a negative WAR kinda guy which is not a thing you want to have as the goalie on an underperforming team.

[miami_fan]

A club like Leicester has to work with the fact that their good players are going to be moving on regularly, and so the scouting/acquisition team needs to have long-term plans and contingencies. It sounds like that kind of setup is missing and Rodgers is maybe of the mindset that they should just be able to buy to replace whenever they need to, which simply isn't realistic.

It's a shame because in general this has been a well-run club.

I don't know how the setup could go missing. I mean, the club seemed to be doing well enough up until last year when they did not get rid of anyone of significance. I can see the argument that they just signed bad players since he got there but I don't hear a lot of people saying they don't have EPL players throughout that squad and people seem to be willing to spend a lot of money to get some of those players. TBH I don't blame Rodgers if he is of the mindset that the club should just be able to bring in sure-fire replacements. If that is the case, he should resign and try to get a job with one of the Big Six. Or he could have gotten them into the Champions League instead of finishing fifth two years in a row before finishing 8th last year. I don't say that in a mean way either. The Leicester model is not for every manager. But I have seen the Leicester model work with the right manager.

The fact remains that Leicester is 7th in the wage table in the EPL. They are spending more on wages than the clubs currently in 4th(Brighton), 8th(Brentford) and 9th(Leeds) combined. There is no excuse for that squad of players to be at the bottom of the league. Let's not forget that they put out a pretty strong lineup and went scoreless against a League Two side in the League Cup. Hopefully with the window closing, the coach and the team can focus on solely improving on the pitch.

[miami_fan]

As far as Schmeichel, I think it is more about his replacement. Not sure what the numbers show after 6 games, but after 3 or 4 Ward was last in the PL in expected goals allowed. Today, I thought he was unsure and noncommittal on some plays where he could have possibly had a better chance at stopping a goal. And that doesn't even account for the screwup where his kick got blocked on a clearing pass and almost gave up another easy one - then got into it with Ndidi. From the little I've seen, he's a negative WAR kinda guy which is not a thing you want to have as the goalie on an underperforming team.

Replacing Schmeichel was going to be tough on any goalkeeper. He is a legend and was the club captain. Replacing him with a guy who the manager did not trust to be even their full time cup goalkeeper was definitely going to be tougher. Not saying that a manager can't replace a goalkeeper the further a club goes in a competition, but it is telling when they make the change when they are not longer facing teams in the lower divisions.

[flere-imsaho]

I don't know how the setup could go missing.

Fair. "Not being utilized", maybe?

TBH I don't blame Rodgers if he is of the mindset that the club should just be able to bring in sure-fire replacements. If that is the case, he should resign and try to get a job with one of the Big Six. Or he could have gotten them into the Champions League instead of finishing fifth two years in a row before finishing 8th last year. I don't say that in a mean way either. The Leicester model is not for every manager. But I have seen the Leicester model work with the right manager.

Exactly, this was what I was trying to say. Leicester just aren't at that level yet:

• Revenue of professional football clubs in 2022 | Statista (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1231497/revenue-of-football-clubs-in-2021/)

As you point out, Leicester are straining the wage budget pretty hard and I don't blame ownership for not wanting to try and go for broke to get Champions League money, given that essentially requires a down year for 3 of the big 6.

[sovereignstar v2]

Chelsea sack Thomas Tuchel. New owner is nuts.

[bhlloy]

New guy comes in with 300m of Tuchel’s signings, including what appears to be a suspiciously close to end of sell by date Aubameyang as the focal point in attack. Absolutely nuts.

[miami_fan]

New guy comes in with 300m of Tuchel’s signings, including what appears to be a suspiciously close to end of sell by date Aubameyang as the focal point in attack. Absolutely nuts.

Were they Tuchel's signings? All of them?

This screams of the new owners who wanted their own manager in place all along but knew they could not fire a CL winning coach right off the bat. If he had not already been hired and fired by the club, I would have said they're going to hire Frank Lampard. I think Graham Potter would be a great hire but I don't know if it would be a great move for Potter. He has to take it if it is offered to him IMO. On one hand, it would be great if the club have a clear plan moving forward. On the other hand, the recruitment during this transfer window was all over the place. The new players that they brought in don't seemed to fit with each other, much less with the players who were there last year. Whoever the new guy is will very much resemble a contestant of an episode of Chopped.

[bhlloy]

If they spent 300m knowing they were going to fire him at the first possible occasion, I think that’s worse. Spending that much in the window and then firing the manager a week later is more likely to be poorly received by the fans than just saying he’s not your guy and letting a new manager have a full window and preseason.

Aubameyang is definitely a Tuchel signing, they got him because they worked together so well at Dortmund. And there were other signings they didn’t make because Tuchel didn’t want the player according to The Athletic. Stinks of Boehly having no idea what he’s doing and deciding to head down the Glazer path rather than the Henry.

[miami_fan]

I agree with your last sentence. I just don't think the spending and keeping Tuchel as head coach are necessarily related.

IIRC part of the negotiations of the sale of the club was maintaining a certain level of spending not only in the transfer market/wages but also in the infrastructure. If that is correct, then they were spending millions regardless of who the manager/coach. That manager/coach distinction is important here as is Boehly being interim sporting director.

I could see a situation where Todd Boehly bought $300 million of players that fit his vision of how he wants to see the club play. I mean that is what a sporting director is supposed to do right? Of course I have no idea whether Boehly has a vision of how he wants the team to play or if his vision matched Tuchel's but that is besides the point. Manager Tuchel says Yeah, these players don't fit what I do and/or they are not good enough. I want this guy and not that guy. Boehly gives him one or two but expects the coach to make it work while being grateful for the $300 million worth of transfers that his sporting director provided for him. Tuchel complains publicly. Boehly fires him because a) he is not allowing the coach to throw shade at him in the press and b) he keeps hearing that the previous owner would not tolerate the way this season has gone so far so he has to prove that he won't tolerate it either.

[sovereignstar v2]

Yes, they were Tuchel signings. They don't even have an actual sporting director, so who else would be providing input on who to sign?

[sovereignstar v2]

Tuchel was smart enough to prevent Chelsea from signing Ronaldo. The other idiots were absolutely going to sign him otherwise.

[miami_fan]

Potter may want to hold off and see what might be going on in Anfield.

Just kidding but that is a surprising score line.

[sovereignstar v2]

Kvaradona is brilliant for Napoli.

[bhlloy]

Pretty amazing when you think any team in the world could have had him for free last summer when he went home to play in Georgia

[sovereignstar v2]

So they got Potter, good for them. Hopefully it's good for him. Last summer still seems like a total fuck-up. From an The Athletic article yesterday:

Tuchel ended the journey with no inkling that his 100th match as Chelsea head coach would also be his last. His initial reaction to being summoned to a conference call and relieved of his duties early the next morning was a mixture of shock and disappointment. When those emotions subsided, his abiding impression from the organised nature of the meeting was that this decision had been taken well in advance of the Dinamo defeat.

High-profile free agent Mauricio Pochettino was also contacted, but Potter was the clear first choice. Understanding how Chelsea’s new owners settled on this drastic and ruthless course of action requires a closer look at the sequence of events that led to this point — a remarkable story that includes:

Tuchel delegating some recruitment meetings to his agent owing to tensions with owners
“Slapstick” moments as new owners got used to soccer, including a 4-4-3 formation Chelsea deny happened
Tuchel feeling he wasn’t given the signings he asked for
Too many players left feeling isolated or even ignored, with separate pre-season meetings
Tuchel believing he had verbally agreed a new contract with Chelsea
Tuchel feeling he was close to sack on pre-season over tensions with Behdad Eghbali
Boehly displaying detailed knowledge of Potter’s career in Cucurella meeting
How communication from owners dried up after Leeds defeat

"[Tuchel/I] am very glad I have the staff, not only my staff but also the football staff and we have a certain routine that I can rely on. It is very time-consuming (the recruitment conversations). It’s not my favourite thing to do and in the long run the focus has to be on coaching because it is why I am here. But at the moment, of course, my help is needed and wanted. It is of course necessary that I step up and take the responsibility.”

Boehly’s appointment as interim sporting director made for a slightly awkward dynamic with Tuchel. It is one thing having a difference of opinion with your club’s sporting director over a particular player, but it is very different when the sporting director also happens to be the co-owner of your club.

By the end of pre-season, Tuchel felt the meetings were endless, with different owners demanding his time at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tuchel did not in fact, perhaps understandably, always step up himself, instead sending his agent to recruitment meetings so he could focus on coaching the team. This is understood to have been an early source of tension with Chelsea’s new owners, who were seeking more direct communication with and input from their head coach as part of the process of identifying transfer targets.

A source close to Tuchel, who does not wish to be named to protect his job, counters that the former head coach was involved in every signing other than deadline day addition Denis Zakaria. When he did participate, Chelsea sources claimed his guidance was inconsistent.

When Boehly was intrigued by the possibility of signing Cristiano Ronaldo after meeting Jorge Mendes in Portugal, Chelsea’s head coach made his opposition to the potential deal known in no uncertain terms on several occasions. His opinion was informed by the problems he encountered managing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain and from his own reservations about the player.

Boehly backed his head coach’s stance and abandoned the possibility, but relations were further strained by Tuchel publicly criticising Chelsea’s lack of transfer progress following a 4-0 pre-season humbling at the hands of Arsenal in Orlando.

Boehly openly described Tuchel as a “nightmare” to deal with on recruitment to a fellow Premier League executive and, in recent weeks, there has been a greater desire within the Chelsea hierarchy to present the nine players purchased for a total outlay in excess of £250million ($287m) this summer as club signings, rather than at the behest of the head coach. That even extends to Aubameyang, whose much-anticipated reunion with the man who unlocked him at Borussia Dortmund lasted a grand total of 59 minutes in Zagreb.

Tuchel argued that the harmony of his squad would be damaged by Ronaldo and helped by Aubameyang. The problem, however, was that any notion of harmony had already been lost.

[sovereignstar v2]

Longest preview video ever, but great watch if you are a City fan haha

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-tlEHzII4-o" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[miami_fan]

After reading the article, I am going to lean towards Tuchel's side of things. There is nothing new about his lack of man management skills. He like Potter by the way seem to be all about coaching the players and working out tactics instead of dealing with transfers on a daily basis.

That being said, I still have some hope for the new owners. Once the new sporting director comes in, they won't feel the need to allegedly draw up tactics for the manager.

[miami_fan]

What is the deal with supporters having heart attacks at the matches? There was another one in the Barca v Cadiz match today. The Cadiz keeper ended up sprinting to throw a medical kit in the stands.

[bhlloy]

From what I can gather from online communities who have watched infinitely more games in the UK than I have going back a very long time, it probably always happened, they just would never think about stopping the game for a medical emergency in the crowd.

Probably a combination of a different era and the fact that the physios in the not too distant past probably weren't medically trained and didn't have much state of the art equipment beyond numbing spray/the magic sponge anyway. You would occasionally hear "if there is a doctor in the crowd please report to xyz" over the tannoy.

[sovereignstar v2]

haaland

[sovereignstar v2]

Dubz (https://dubz.co/v/k8qh98)

Johan Cruyff Wonder Goal against Atlético Madrid - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg7MFjVVfUI&t=1s)

[whomario]

If Haaland ever stays healthy for a whole season he'll top Ronaldo/Messi goal numbers.

[miami_fan]

This has brought me way too much joy this morning. This is what I would like to hear more of if the broadcasters are going to keep mic'ing up the players.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wycombe Wanderers player getting into a players head before taking a penalty 😂 <a href="https://t.co/EGzQoywG15">pic.twitter.com/EGzQoywG15</a></p>&mdash; football shithousery (@FootballMissess) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballMissess/status/1570089607068545025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[miami_fan]

At some point, the programmers are going to fix the Leicester City set piece exploit.

[miami_fan]

That will do it for Brenden

[sovereignstar v2]

Haaland beast mode

Haaland has as many hat tricks as Jamie Vardy and Frank Lampaard

[sovereignstar v2]

Foden >>> Sancho

Just like I said years ago

[miami_fan]

That is a hilarious way to get sent off by the Leeds player. I don't know about the first yellow but the second yellow was well deserved.

[CrimsonFox]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63105945

125 dead after fans storm the field to celebrate and are beaten and teargassed repeatedly by cops, then are crushed trying to flee.

[CrimsonFox]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63105945

125 dead after fans storm the field to celebrate and are beaten and teargassed repeatedly by cops, then are crushed trying to flee.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GN6mQvm_BYY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[whomario]

Haaland beast mode

Haaland has as many hat tricks as Jamie Vardy and Frank Lampaard

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeEyBG7WAAAnUSt?format=jpg&name=small

[flere-imsaho]

I knew Haaland would be pretty devastating when hooked up to Man City's fully functional chance-creation machine, but this is ridiculous.

Haaland leads the EPL scoring chart with 14 goals. Harry Kane is second with 7. And, knock-on effect, de Bruyne leads the assist chart with 8. Second is Bernardo Silva with 4. Tied for 5th is... Erling Haaland with 3.

Kudos to Arsenal for their bright start, and current lead in the table, but unless Haaland gets injured, the rest of the league will be playing Alderaan to Man City's Death Star.

[SirFozzie]

Any one who is mentioned for abuse in this report needs to be blackballed from the industry.

U.S. Soccer investigation into women's game finds systemic abuse, misconduct (https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-nwsl/story/4760185/us-soccer-investigation-into-womens-game-finds-systemic-abusemisconduct)

Including this bit that needs CRIMINAL referral. (spoilering for Sexual assault, from the article)


The report includes a previously undisclosed revelation as to the manner of Racing Louisville's firing of Christy Holly as manager back in August 2021. The report details how Holly called a player, identified as Erin Simon, in for a film session, stating he would touch her "for every pass" she made a mistake on. (ESPN's policy is to not publicly identify victims of abuse, but Simon, through a spokesperson, agreed to be identified.)

Holly then proceeded to put his hand "down her pants and up her shirt." Simon would try to "tightly cross her legs and push him away, laughing to avoid angering him," adds the report, stating that when her teammate picked her up to drive home, Simon broke down crying.


The player agreed to be identified for this report, btw

[Racer]

Any one who is mentioned for abuse in this report needs to be blackballed from the industry.

U.S. Soccer investigation into women's game finds systemic abuse, misconduct (https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-nwsl/story/4760185/us-soccer-investigation-into-womens-game-finds-systemic-abusemisconduct)

Including this bit that needs CRIMINAL referral. (spoilering for Sexual assault, from the article)


The report includes a previously undisclosed revelation as to the manner of Racing Louisville's firing of Christy Holly as manager back in August 2021. The report details how Holly called a player, identified as Erin Simon, in for a film session, stating he would touch her "for every pass" she made a mistake on. (ESPN's policy is to not publicly identify victims of abuse, but Simon, through a spokesperson, agreed to be identified.)

Holly then proceeded to put his hand "down her pants and up her shirt." Simon would try to "tightly cross her legs and push him away, laughing to avoid angering him," adds the report, stating that when her teammate picked her up to drive home, Simon broke down crying.


The player agreed to be identified for this report, btw

This is absolutely awful. Holly should face criminal charges. I believe there were rumblings of his behavior at Sky Blue from what I've read but Racing Louisville opted to hire him anyway (he at least was in a relationship with one of his players for sure which is bad).

I lived in Louisville for about 9 years until I moved closer to family last August. Racing Louisville and USWNT are the two soccer teams I follow/watch regularly.

I am still rooting for the NWSL and Racing Louisville to succeed and thrive. Women's sports don't have nearly the viewership that they deserve.

However, anyone who enabled this kind behavior among the NWSL office, U.S. Soccer, and clubs around the league need to be terminated if they are still around as well those who were responsible slowing or inhibiting the investigation.

[Racer]

This is absolutely awful. Holly should face criminal charges. I believe there were rumblings of his behavior at Sky Blue from what I've read but Racing Louisville opted to hire him anyway (he at least was in a relationship with one of his players for sure which is bad).

I lived in Louisville for about 9 years until I moved closer to family last August. Racing Louisville and USWNT are the two soccer teams I follow/watch regularly.

I am still rooting for the NWSL and Racing Louisville to succeed and thrive. Women's sports don't have nearly the viewership that they deserve.

However, anyone who enabled this kind behavior among the NWSL office, U.S. Soccer, and clubs around the league need to be terminated if they are still around as well those who were responsible slowing or inhibiting the investigation.

Here is an interview with Racing Louisville's goalkeeper and captain from the 2021 season, Michelle Betos. She played for Gotham (formerly Sky Blue) this year.

https://twitter.com/Tyler_Greever/status/1577089722047832065

Audio seems to cut in and out some. "James" who she refers to some in the interview is James O'Connor who is the current team president of both Racing Louisville and Louisville City FC.

[miami_fan]

Any one who is mentioned for abuse in this report needs to be blackballed from the industry.

U.S. Soccer investigation into women's game finds systemic abuse, misconduct (https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-nwsl/story/4760185/us-soccer-investigation-into-womens-game-finds-systemic-abusemisconduct)

Including this bit that needs CRIMINAL referral. (spoilering for Sexual assault, from the article)


The report includes a previously undisclosed revelation as to the manner of Racing Louisville's firing of Christy Holly as manager back in August 2021. The report details how Holly called a player, identified as Erin Simon, in for a film session, stating he would touch her "for every pass" she made a mistake on. (ESPN's policy is to not publicly identify victims of abuse, but Simon, through a spokesperson, agreed to be identified.)

Holly then proceeded to put his hand "down her pants and up her shirt." Simon would try to "tightly cross her legs and push him away, laughing to avoid angering him," adds the report, stating that when her teammate picked her up to drive home, Simon broke down crying.


The player agreed to be identified for this report, btw

They probably need to go ahead and transition to the investigation of abuse in the youth soccer ranks. I doubt the people with power are waiting until the players turn eighteen before abusing them.

[Ksyrup]

Fire Rodgers now. So predictable, another collapse.

[kingfc22]

Top of the table once again!

[sovereignstar v2]

Don't do it to yourself.

[CrimsonFox]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GN6mQvm_BYY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

so no one was concerned about this?

[Critch]

If you are concerned about the above, here's a documentary from Al Jazeera about Indonesian football violence:

Indonesia’s Football Fever (https://www.aljazeera.com/program/101-east/2019/4/4/indonesias-football-fever)

Who knew there was such a thing before last week?

[SirFozzie]

Kinda interesting, Clint Dempsey is advising a group to create something like a Soccer version of "The Basketball Tournament", which is a 1 million winner take all 64 team basketball tournament. The Soccer Tournament would be run by the same folks as the Basketball tournament and feature a 32 team tournament played over four days, World Cup style (32 team group stage, Knockouts starting at the round of 16, etcetera)


Rules:

7 on 7 (normally), small field

2 20 Minute Halves of Regulation

Modified version of the Elam Ending. At the end of regulation, a winning score is set (Winning team's current score +1, so if it's 7-5, the winning score is 8). During the Ending phase, every five minutes, each team loses a player. (becomes 6v6, 5v5, etcetera)

[SirFozzie]

Rangers go up 1-0 on Liverpool, and all the pundits start dreaming of their "Liverpool is gone" speeches.



Rangers fans: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve"

Liverpool Angry. Liverpool SMASH!

Final 7-1 Liverpool

[Ksyrup]

This is fun. Nice appetizer before a day of NFL.

[bhlloy]

The state of refereeing in British football if this is the best ref they can put out for the biggest game of the weekend (season?). You could tell me Anthony Taylor is eight beers in and I’d believe you, with how just utterly bizarre and inconsistent he’s been.

Oh and if I was Salah I’d be putting a hit out on Nunez. What a selfish shit of a player.

[sovereignstar v2]

I remember a time before VAR when you could celebrate goals. It was awesome.

[kingfc22]

Still top of the table.

[flere-imsaho]

The state of refereeing in British football if this is the best ref they can put out for the biggest game of the weekend (season?).

IIRC, a number of experienced refs retired somewhat unexpectedly over the past few years, variously citing unrelenting abuse and also phoned/mailed death threats.

In addition the UK, like the US, has seen a decimation of numbers of refs at the grassroots. The EPL (like MLS) will always have referees, but the standard is going to continue to go down as there's just less and less competition.

[miked]

That was certainly strange, I thought they were reviewing whether it was knocked out of Alison's hands, not whether there was a random foul 5 passes before the goal. How far back can they review?

[sovereignstar v2]

That was certainly strange, I thought they were reviewing whether it was knocked out of Alison's hands, not whether there was a random foul 5 passes before the goal. How far back can they review?

They'll let you know as soon as they're done making up the rules, ie never

[Critch]

That was certainly strange, I thought they were reviewing whether it was knocked out of Alison's hands, not whether there was a random foul 5 passes before the goal. How far back can they review?

Same "phase of play". So go back til the ball has been out of play, or Liverpool had control of the ball. Just check the period Man City had the ball before the goal. Hard to argue it wasnt a foul, so VAR got it right this time.

[miked]

I guess the point is they had more than enough time to blow the whistle and call the foul, it was not bang bang. They were not playing any advantage, it was just odd officiating and odd that they can go back as far as the entire possession.

[HomerSimpson98]

Oh and if I was Salah I’d be putting a hit out on Nunez. What a selfish shit of a player.


Amen! Wow. After the first time, he should have thought "maybe I made the wrong decision". Second time was inexcusable.

[Critch]

Here or the Strange News Stories thread?

Colombian soccer player exposes penis (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11332333/Colombian-soccer-player-exposes-penis-free-kick-says-WASNT-intentional.html)

[miami_fan]

Brendan is turning things around I see.

[Ksyrup]

Eh. Half a game to go. Two weeks ago they gave up a lead and lost. This is a must win after Nottingham upset Liverpool yesterday but it ends a run against beatable teams. He's a good manager and I doubt they fire him u less things get untenable. But they are still teetering.

[Ksyrup]

Well, maybe turning a corner of sorts. Even if just to make a run to safety.

[flere-imsaho]

Brendan is turning things around I see.

Forest, Leeds, & Wolves may have been the right teams at the right time. Losing to any one of those and you'd have to be truly concerned.

Of course the next three are Man City, Everton, & West Ham. Probably can't take anything away from the City game, but you probably want to see them be competitive with the other two, otherwise you'd have to think ownership would be ready to pull the trigger.

To me, Leicester need to resolve two things:

1. Your play for regular UCL money failed, you need to recalibrate to either a) EURO Cup money or b) just regular revenue with anything else being a bonus. What does that recruitment strategy look like and how long will it take to implement?

2. Someone needs to have a sit down with Rodgers and explain the above and determine a) if he's OK being in this competitive position and b) does he have a tactical plan to win with a team constructed that way.


Arguably, there's no reason why this can't work, as Rodgers had success in the EPL with Swansea on a similarly limited budget. But I wonder if stints with Liverpool (eventually unsuccessful) and Celtic (inevitably successful), and thus functionally unlimited budgets, have changed his mindset too much.

He's human too, and leaving Celtic for Leicester was clearly part of a plan to get back to a Big 6 post. But he's probably going to have to show he can do it without Big 6 money, like Potter just did.


I'm not a huge fan of Rodgers the man, but he's clearly talented and can likely succeed at a Big 6 club. I feel he probably just needs to stop getting in his own way in order to achieve that success.

[flere-imsaho]

That was certainly strange, I thought they were reviewing whether it was knocked out of Alison's hands, not whether there was a random foul 5 passes before the goal. How far back can they review?

If we're talking the Haaland disallowed goal (sorry, I'm two weeks behind), there are 3 touches (including Haaland's shot, the rebound of which is scored by Foden) after the foul, and about 8 elapsed seconds. It's a clear foul by Haaland that creates a clear advantage for City. Good call, IMO.

In addition, Allison didn't appear to have control of the ball.

[Ksyrup]

That looked like the right call on the Wilson goal. Mainly because I feel like Lloris flopped - there was contact, he was standing upright at contact but then immediately threw his legs out, knowing he was completely out of position.

[flere-imsaho]

Yeah, flop by Lloris. Good no-call. I wouldn't have argued a yellow for simulation, to be honest. If the internet is to be believed, Lloris has 30 pounds on Wilson.

[Critch]

Leeds into the relegation zone and the next 5 league games have away games at Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle and home to Man City in there.

We could be getting to the end of Jesse Marsch's time in the EPL.

[SirFozzie]

Interesting. MLS Wants to revamp the playoffs. # of games would go from 13 up to possibly 30.

MLS considering significant overhaul of playoff format: Sources - The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3730955/2022/10/25/mls-considering-significant-overhaul-of-playoff-format-sources/)

Two options mentioned in the article are:

A) A playoff group stage (Break down 16 playoff qualifiers into four groups of four (keeping within conferences, so there would be two western conference groups, and two eastern conference groups, play each other once (the two higher seed teams in each group would get two home playoff games, the two lower seeds only get one) top two from each playoff group qualify for quarterfinals, then single legged knock out from there

and

B) Two-legged matches (home and away) throughout the playoffs.


My thought: If they're going with option A, make it so all post season games are at the higher seed throughout the group stage (so the top team in each playoff group would get all three games at home, 2nd seed would get two games at home (the third at the top seed on the road), so on and so forth.

[kingfc22]

A seems a bit silly since the regular season already creates the seeding. Two legged matches is much more in line with a lot of competitions.

[miami_fan]

Option B is the only one that makes any sense to me. The article does say that the goal is to increase its overall inventory of postseason matches for its new media partner Apple. Option B gets you to 25 postseason games with a single game MLS Cup as opposed to the 30 with Option A. I see no need for those dead rubber matches. I would much rather MLS add 6 more games to the regular season so every team will get a chance to face each other at least once every year.

[sovereignstar v2]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/M1M6ee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@M1M6ee</a> <a href="https://t.co/5KMPu9eJEn">pic.twitter.com/5KMPu9eJEn</a></p>&mdash; Mohammed (@ii221175) <a href="https://twitter.com/ii221175/status/1586457735847202818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[JonInMiddleGA]

I would much rather MLS add 6 more games to the regular season so every team will get a chance to face each other at least once every year.

But how marketable are those hypothetical games?

Regular season MLS averaged around 334,000 TV audience per game this year (a noticeable improvement, and the best in 15 years).

That's 60% of the audience that AEW gets for Rampage on Friday nights. And it's -with- games on ABC proper included in the average.

[miami_fan]

But how marketable are those hypothetical games?

Regular season MLS averaged around 334,000 TV audience per game this year (a noticeable improvement, and the best in 15 years).

That's 60% of the audience that AEW gets for Rampage on Friday nights. And it's -with- games on ABC proper included in the average.

I honestly don't know. I know I would be much more likely to watch Inter Miami travel to Portland to play the Timbers in that atmosphere or to L.A. play the Galaxy than I am to watch a dead rubber third group stage match where they face FC Cincinnati for at least the third time that season.

This is what frustrates me with MLS. They make a big deal about being a North America sports league and how the way we do things here involve playoffs. no relegation, etc. Cool, I may not like it but I can support what they are saying. All of a sudden we are introducing a group stage? A group stage grouped by conference? When did we start doing group stages in North America professional sports? Hell, if you just want to have more games, make each playoff series two out of three until MLS Cup. I am not a big fan of that either but at least that is something that is normal for North American sports.

[JonInMiddleGA]

This is what frustrates me with MLS. They make a big deal about being a North America sports league and how the way we do things here involve playoffs. no relegation, etc. Cool, I may not like it but I can support what they are saying. All of a sudden we are introducing a group stage? A group stage grouped by conference? When did we start doing group stages in North America professional sports? Hell, if you just want to have more games, make each playoff series two out of three until MLS Cup. I am not a big fan of that either but at least that is something that is normal for North American sports.

Considering that the Univision audience for the MLS playoffs is usually larger than the U.S. network(s) audience, I'm not sure that normal for the U.S. matters as much.

As for "where is adding games more attractive", I can guarantee you that Apple looks at the average playoff game audience and looks at the average regular season game audience and quickly decides which type of game they want more of.

[sovereignstar v2]

hey jude

[flere-imsaho]

I feel like we need to do a poll: "Manchester City appear to be a juggernaut in the early season. Will they roll through and easily win their first UCL or what comedy late-round collapse do we see for them this time?"

I'm laughing, but inside I'm crying, fyi. :D

[sovereignstar v2]

I feel like we need to do a poll: "Manchester City appear to be a juggernaut in the early season. Will they roll through and easily win their first UCL or what comedy late-round collapse do we see for them this time?"

I'm laughing, but inside I'm crying, fyi. :D

Should be favorites again, but anything can happen. I think they would have gotten past Madrid if Kyle Walker was available. The good news keeps rolling in. Pep should be extending again shortly.

[Ksyrup]

The last 20 minutes of the MLS Cup has been better than anything I've watched of college FB all day.

[Ksyrup]

The goalkeeper storyline. Unreal.

[miami_fan]

{inserts the Union forgot to put penalties on the practice schedule here}

[kingfc22]

Another solid all around effort for Arsenal and still top of the table.

[miami_fan]

Full U.S. Roster for 2022 World Cup:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town/ENG; 8/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 10/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 20/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 11/0), Sergino Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 19/2), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 29/3), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 15/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 46/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 29/2), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER; 3/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; 75/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 33/3)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 24/6), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 53/2), Tyler Adams (Leeds United/ENG; 32/1), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 12/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 37/9), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 19/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 32/0)

FORWARDS (7): Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas; 15/7), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 49/11), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 52/21), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 14/4), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 20/5), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 25/3), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor/TUR; 3/1)

There really should not be any surprise that Zack Steffen missed out. He has been horrible for Middlesbrough this season.

[BishopMVP]

Can I be surprised Jordan Morris and Haji Wright made it over Ricardo Pepi and Jordan Pefok and Roldan over Tillman and LDLT? Though I guess surprised isn't the right word...

[Ghost Econ]

Luca is on there.

[Ghost Econ]

2014 we had 5 guys with over 70 caps.

This time we have 1, and he probably won't play unless Dest needs a late game breather and we're winning.

Yedlin is also the only holdover from 2014.

[Edward64]

No idea how serious this is. Is a boycott a real possibility?

FIFA and Qatar 'rattled' as European World Cup boycott gathers pace | Euronews (https://www.euronews.com/2022/11/10/fifa-and-qatar-rattled-as-european-world-cup-boycott-gathers-pace)
FIFA and Qatar 'rattled' as European World Cup boycott gathers pace

The giant banners are now a familiar sight at German Bundesliga games.

Unfurled by fans, and seen by millions watching on TV, "Boycott Qatar 2022" has become a rallying cry for clubs, supporters and players alike who oppose this month's World Cup and want to highlight human rights and environmental concerns in the host nation.

"The closer the World Cup gets, the more intense the message is getting," explained Stefan Schirmer from the Boycott Qatar campaign.

"We have the impression that since the last two or three months, the momentum is gaining, it's going up," Schirmer, who plays football for an amateur club in Mainz, told Euronews.

Schirmer is involved with other volunteers in the campaign to keep public attention on the controversial decision to award the World Cup to Qatar. Recently, the US Justice Department alleged Qatar was involved in bribing FIFA delegates for votes, something Doha and FIFA strongly deny.

[sovereignstar v2]

Boycott of what?

The campaign hopes individual football fans will opt to tune out of the games on TV, and that pubs which would normally show the matches decide not to this year, for ethical reasons.

Okay, yeah I suppose a few people might not watch because the ball is being kicked around in Qatar.

[Edward64]

Hah, you are right. Misleading headlines

[BishopMVP]

Sepp Blatter's statement on what Platini did feels like it should be getting more attention, but also let's be real once the games are on I'm not boycotting.

[MIJB#19]

No idea how serious this is. Is a boycott a real possibility?No, this is by no means serious. Once the ball starts rolling, all is forgotten.

[kingfc22]

Haven’t even played yet and guaranteed top of the table headed into the World Cup break. Thanks Brentford.

[SirFozzie]

File under "Life comes at you fast"

Last week: Two goals against ManCity.

This week: https://twitter.com/guardian_sport/status/1592939407606153218

232 (alleged) breaches of betting rules.

[Edward64]

TBH probably a good call.

Qatar is set to ban all beer sales at and around its World Cup stadiums, in a dramatic U-turn just two days before the massive soccer tournament begins, according to multiple reports citing people with knowledge of the matter.

The conservative, gas-rich Muslim nation does not fully ban alcohol for visitors, but its sale and consumption is strictly controlled.

[MIJB#19]

TBH probably a good call.FIFA should strip them from the tournament. Hard promises were not kept, taking away the alcohol from alcohol addicts isn't what Qatar bribed all those FIFA suits for.

[miami_fan]

FIFA should strip them from the tournament. Hard promises were not kept, taking away the alcohol from alcohol addicts isn't what Qatar bribed all those FIFA suits for.

One promise down, many more to go. By the time the final comes around, both teams will be obligated to participate in the 'Salah' or else.

[miami_fan]

Speaking of those FIFA suits, Austin Warner is a tiny step closer to a NY courtroom.

Ex-FIFA vice president Warner loses appeal against extradition from Trinidad | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/ex-fifa-vice-president-warner-loses-appeal-against-extradition-trinidad-2022-11-17/)

[Edward64]

May have missed this but didn't see this in MSM. Get a cheap burner if going.

In my overseas trip earlier this year, I also had to install some Covid tracking apps. I have to go and delete them.

Qatar 'requires' World Cup visitors to install state-sponsored 'spyware' on their phones | TechSpot (https://www.techspot.com/news/96384-qatar-requires-world-cup-visitors-install-state-sponsored.html)
Thousands of football fans are expected to descend on the region over the next couple of months to witness some live World Cup action. However, the country has raised serious concerns with cybersecurity researchers by "requiring" visitors to download apps that give officials overbearing rights to the data on their phones.
Ehteraz is a covid-19 tracking app available for iOS and Android. The software is troubling because it asks for permissions far beyond the norm. Unsurprisingly it wants to track users' precise location through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which seems somewhat reasonable. After all, it is a covid-tracking app.

However, after Vasaasen conducted a thorough review of the software, he found that Ehteraz wanted much more than tracking capabilities. The app can also "read, delete, or change all content" on the user's phone. It can override any other installed software and prevent the phone from entering sleep mode. Additional permissions include the ability to make outgoing calls and the disabling of the device's lock screen.

[miami_fan]

Meh. I have to believe given everything that we have heard about the Qatari government over the last ten years, if someone decided to go to the World Cup, they don't really care too much about being tracked by said government.

[MIJB#19]

Meh. I have to believe given everything that we have heard about the Qatari government over the last ten years, if someone decided to go to the World Cup, they don't really care too much about being tracked by said government.Anybody walking around with a cellphone with a facebook or google account on it already decided he doesn't care about his privacy or doesn't want to think about it. One more or less app that doesn't care about your privacy shouldn't bother them.

[bhlloy]

Qatar are not good

[Lathum]

This shit with the Iranian goalie is dreadful.

[NobodyHere]

Sepp Blatter's statement on what Platini did feels like it should be getting more attention, but also let's be real once the games are on I'm not boycotting.

I'll be boycotting. While I'm not a hardcore fan I would've been watching some of the games.

[Ghost Econ]

Worst case scenario for US v England.

England can relax the second half and get 6 subs, so plenty of rest for Englands top players.

I wonder if this may be the best possible time for a world cup for the top players. They're in the middle of the season and can mostly be in form, instead of exhausted from a full season.

[Ksyrup]

More goals than most baseball postseason runs scored!

[Critch]

I'd almost forgotten how much I hate Alexi Lalas and here he is running his mouth for every game. A month of Alexi Lalas all the time. Bring back Mike Tirico.

[Lathum]

Beautiful goal for the Dutch. Great cross

[bhlloy]

Really odd for Wales to leave Kieffer Moore out, especially seeing as CB is probably the US’ weakest position. That lineup doesn’t fill me with a ton of confidence, but with how bad Iran are looking 4 points might be enough so might be going a bit conservative? That’s all I’ve got.

[MIJB#19]

Weird, no yellow card for the captains of the USA and Wales for wearing a political statement on their arm. The Dutch media is all over FIFA's treatments to book any captain wearing such a band and as a result our captain Virgil van Dijk didn't wear the anti discrimination band he wore before in Nations League matches. FIFA being FIFA. :sigh:

[sterlingice]

The Fox broadcast really needs some way to do replays

SI

[Kodos]

Sounds like Qatar used what amounts to slave labor to get the stadiums, hotels, and everything else built for the World Cup.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UMqLDhl8PXw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[miami_fan]

Weird, no yellow card for the captains of the USA and Wales for wearing a political statement on their arm. The Dutch media is all over FIFA's treatments to book any captain wearing such a band and as a result our captain Virgil van Dijk didn't wear the anti discrimination band he wore before in Nations League matches. FIFA being FIFA. :sigh:

What was the statement? I missed the beginning of the match and I did not see anything on a initial rewind.

[Critch]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The attendance for Senegal vs. Netherlands was announced as 41,721.<br><br>The official capacity of the Al Thumama Stadium stadium in Qatar is 40,000.<br><br>Here are some photos of the stands...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QatarWorldCup2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QatarWorldCup2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/09jdf9TNTf">pic.twitter.com/09jdf9TNTf</a></p>&mdash; Eurosport (@eurosport) <a href="https://twitter.com/eurosport/status/1594751389657350150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GrantDawg]

I will admit that I haven't payed attention to the build-up on this WC, so when the started talking about Tim Ream I couldn't help but think "It couldn't be that Tim Ream? Isn't he old?" Yes it is, and yes he is. Good for him.

[MIJB#19]

What was the statement? I missed the beginning of the match and I did not see anything on a initial rewind.There was no statement at the beginning of the match.
A day before the Senegal - Netherlands match, FIFA told the KNVB (Dutch football association) the captain arm band that Van Dijk has worn in recent games as captain of Oranje is a political statement and would be punished with a yellow card at the start of every match he wears it. Yet the message "One Love" on the arm band is apparently more political than the "No discrimination" we're seeing today with the captains of Wales and the USA. Regardless that the message behind it is exactly that: no discrimination.
:rolleyes:

[sovereignstar v2]

Never would have imagined our awful central defenders would be our downfall.

[Ghost Econ]

Is Gio dead?

[Ghost Econ]

Jordan Morris? WTF

[RainMaker]

Is Reyna hurt?

[sovereignstar v2]

Is Reyna hurt?

Knowing him, probably?

[Ksyrup]

From what I saw (I was on Teams calls for most of the game), I thought Aaronson was excellent off the bench and Pulisic not good. It's hard watching this stuff - much prefer league play.

[Solecismic]

Not being an avid soccer follower, that was rough to watch. I don't think there's enough time remaining in the millennium to accurately compensate for the hours players from both teams spent on the ground writhing in anticipation of a draw.

Maybe it's best to tune out until the semifinals or something. As for the protests, blame FIFA. It's Qatar. They don't play by western rules. What exactly did people expect and why exactly does it matter when we're watching to see soccer, not judge countries in some sort of beauty pageant?

What's the point of the World Cup when no one seems to want to be there?

[Solecismic]

From what I saw (I was on Teams calls for most of the game), I thought Aaronson was excellent off the bench and Pulisic not good. It's hard watching this stuff - much prefer league play.

Pulisic dominates games for a while - he created the goal and Weah, for a shocking change given the US lately, put it away deftly. And then for long, long periods of time (the entire second half) all he seems to do is lie on the ground and gesture at the referee. If he wasn't such a poor sport, he might be one of the great ones.

[bob]

I'm surprised Wales didn't push more for a win. The way I see it, both teams are likely to lose to England and beat Iran. Given that the US plays Iran last, they will know what Wales did to Iran and how many goals they need to make up vs the weaker opponent in match 3. Unless they somehow thing England will take it easy on them or something.

[MIJB#19]

For those being stuck with media that are too incompetent to read all the tie-breaker rules: Wales is currently 2nd in Group B, ahead of 3rd place USA, on "team conduct score" (essentialy lower number of yellow and red cards). Just like the Netherlands are ahead of Ecuador in group A (and Senegal is ahead of Qatar for 3rd place).

[MIJB#19]

I'm surprised Wales didn't push more for a win. The way I see it, both teams are likely to lose to England and beat Iran. Given that the US plays Iran last, they will know what Wales did to Iran and how many goals they need to make up vs the weaker opponent in match 3. Unless they somehow thing England will take it easy on them or something.If England beats the USA, England will need just a scoreless draw against Wales to win the group, whilst in that scenario if Wales has already beaten Iran, Wales will need just a scoreless draw against England to take second place, regardless of what the USA does to Iran. It probably didn't cross their (Wales') minds during the game, but that's a possible scenario.

[RainMaker]

I feel like you need to get a draw against England to move on. Berhalter's MLS guys are just not going to juice up that goal differential enough.

It would take a big effort but the talent is there.

[bhlloy]

Really odd for Wales to leave Kieffer Moore out, especially seeing as CB is probably the US’ weakest position. That lineup doesn’t fill me with a ton of confidence, but with how bad Iran are looking 4 points might be enough so might be going a bit conservative? That’s all I’ve got.

I don’t often get pre-match predictions right, but when I do… Moore and Johnson must start the rest of the games. Bizarre decision to try to go small ball and lightweight against a team like the US.

Got to be worrying for the US that they played 48 minutes against a team who didn’t show up at all and couldn’t get out of their own half and managed one shot on goal and ended up being outshot for the game. I’d have been happy with a point before the game and would have bit your hand off for a point at half time.

I agree with Jim about Pulisic, he’s great for a couple plays a game but goes missing far too often to be considered world class and with those dead ball deliveries, might as well just take short corners and free kicks. Aaronson was good when he came on and Adams was outstanding, but when all is said and done I think that is probably two poor teams who will be out to the first decent team they play in the next round if they get through.