Today I added to the list of goals celebrated like an idiot while watching at home!

Surprised no-one had chimed in on the Manchester derby: one of the best games so far this season.

I was at my son's birthday party today so I couldn't catch it live. Now I have six 12 years olds having NBA 2K and MLB 20 tournaments on the TVs with the DVRs so it will probably have to wait til tomorrow. I already knew the result but it is good to hear it was a great game. Catching up on some Serie A now.

That was painful even as background noise.

Just caught up with the EPL games from yesterday. My god, Liverpool might be invincible.

That’s about the only thing in question for this year’s Premier League.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a shoulder tackle (legal) and and shoulder barge (illegal)? I feel like there have been 25 different interpretations over shoulder to shoulder contact over last two days alone.

Not a good day for VAR.

At some point, I won't find it funny that Chelsea would look to Jorginho to help them control a match.

Now is not that point.

They need to get rid of it. Taking away that Wolves goal is pure ridiculousness.

If they are going to abide by the current offside law, then those calls are going to happen. The PL can always ignore the offsides law in the same way they do the goalkeeper penalty law.

Dola, it would be nice if the match officials enforced the rules regarding player dissent and players surrounding the match officials.

This sentiment is so 1966.

Looks like Michael Oliver has made history. First match official to go to the pitchside monitor for review in an English competition. Upgraded a yellow to a red rightfully so IMO.

I struggle to say it but......good job UEFA?

Manchester City faces two-year Champions League ban for FFP violations

about time.
At this pace, Paris SG will be suspended by 2030 or so.

That being said I do want City to not only win the CL now. First, I want the images of the UEFA president in the luxury box with the City owners and the start of the game and the UEFA president handing the trophy to City.

I enjoy the messiness in sports.

BTW City is also under investigation by the Premier League.

How many people show up to the Man City v Crawley Town League Two match next season?:lol:

Quite a lot, I bet. Unless the true fans from before the oil money injection abandoned their loyalty. This was already a well supported club inside the UK, just not one of the elite clubs.

Newcastle had 30,000+ attendances in Division One, City would be the same if they went down ...

Good job Gary! LOL

Definitely @Arsenal’s best result of the season. #invincibles

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 29, 2020

This sucks for both Atlanta and the league. He is a great player that plays hard.

He's an undeniable talent, even for someone like me who is awfully meh about MLS, and as players go strikes me as relatively personable.

Not a horrible opening match for Inter Miami. LAFC was definitely the better team but I did not feel like Miami looked out of place. Vermeer was very good in the LAFC goal but Miami should have at least one. Same could be for Robles in goal for Miami though. I would say that 2-1 was a better representation of the game.

Rumours that Arsenal want to sign John Stones... Stones and Luiz would be the most Arsenal defence ever :D

I’ve seen some poorly officiated games, but this ATL v. FCC is ridiculous. Two players tackled in the box with arms fully extended in the back, no call, no VAR, two tricky tack yellows go the other way. No major issue with the yellows, but if you’re calling those, how are the others not awarded?

Serie A halted until April due to virus

This was almost hidden under all the coronavirus news...ALMOST!

U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro steps down amid USWNT pay dispute

As expected.

Euro 2020 postponed until 2021 due to coronavirus - sources

as well as Copa America 2020.

Coronavirus: English football extends suspension to April 30 | Football News | Sky Sports

Had a thought last night (clearly focussing on the most important issues given the lockdown instructions!)

From what they’re saying, it sounds highly likely that even if social restrictions relax in the summer, this will happen again either later this year or next.

So rather than bin this season or rush to get it through by July, etc, why not bin next season and give until May 2021 to get this season done?

Obviously contracts would be an issue, but it takes the time pressures off, and if things do go smoother over the next 12 months than scientists are suggesting, we can have one off mini tournaments or leagues to fill the gap.

It’s going to be a long three weeks (plus)...

If the broadcasters are willing, I think that might be possible. Since it has already been floated that the broadcasters would want their money for any missed season(s), there is no chance.

I would suggest to finish 2019/2020 in the first couple of months after July 1st (like in August, September, October) to finish this season, then find a way to have the 2020/2021 season in a shorter format (half a season?) and pick up the normal routine with 2021/2022.

Good point - I had naively ignored the broadcasters.

It would be an interesting situation if they did want refunds - theoretically it would be terrible PR after a world pandemic and hundreds of thousands of deaths, maybe more... but people will want their football back and I can’t see that many cancelling subscriptions in outrage.

In Germany it wouldnt have to be refunds as the contract clealy states that payments happen after certain gameday (8, 17, 26, 34) which is why the clubs pushed so hard for still playing the 26th match day.
So the clubs are out half the TV money this season.

I don’t want to post the whole article here (paid content et.al) but the Athletic reported that EPL execs were told that it costs them 762 million pounds in lost broadcast revenue due to breach of contract. To address whomario’s point, EPL clubs get paid in August and February. So they need to provide that product.

Newcastle: Owner Mike Ashley criticised over season ticket payments - BBC Sport

At least he is consistent.

Watching reruns on BBC, ManU Arsenal, Utd with Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, Keane; Arsenal have Vieira, Bergkamp, Henry, Ljungberg, Pires...

Wow, they were two loaded teams...

Awesome, going to have to see if that makes his way online :)

Actually spend yesterday evening watching some classic german NT games, totally forgot how damn different the game was even in the mid 90s.
Germany-Czech Republic final from Euro 96, still featuring a Sweeper/Libero on both sides and tackles that today would be a clear red card but back then earned a mild shrug from the Ref and reporters calling it no foul despite hitting 95% leg and mayyyyybeee a bit of the ball after that :D

Sammer for Germany was so good in that Libero role btw. Lots of injuries but in his short peak was spectacular. absolute hero of my childhood (who i even met as he was friends with our club president whose son still is a good mate of mine)

This is the episode, but for UK users only. Never successfully used a VPN so no idea whether that is easily fixed!

Match Of Their Day: Jermaine Jenas describes being managed by Sir Bobby Robson - BBC Sport

They’re also showing old World Cup highlights, which this week included the 1970 semi final between Italy & West Germany - I didn’t know about that game, what a match! (sorry whomario!)

Along the same lines, if anyone in the States is interested, NBC Sports Gold is free until April 30 including the Premier League Pass.

I can’t remember the thread where we were discussing the virus’s effect on college sports. But this just seems like the first of many.

University of Cincinnati discontinues men's soccer program

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/01/us/us...sed/index.html Amazing how this fact keeps getting ignored. But I am glad the rest of the trial is going forward

It was noted that US Soccer offered the USWNT the exact same contract as the USMNT and the USWNT turned it down - because the USWNT wanted guaranteed contracts and benefits as opposed to a per play bonus.

And the judge found the USWNT made more per game than the USMNT, and found if the USMNT was paid under the USWNT contract the USMNT would have made more than they actually did.

Ironically missing the 2018 WC may have helped US Soccer in it's arguments. Though once again they are being paid completely different.

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Hey. I haven't seen this soccer game on FS1 before. Wonder how old it is. Wait, what do you mean it's LIVE? Live Sports? That's just a fantasy.. No? It's Real? Well, hot damn. I'll watch!

Well that was interesting.

So I am not gonna lie. I miss talking about sports here. I know we can't really get around talking about the other stuff but if we are all about getting back to normal, I kinda need to discuss some sports stuff. So I am boosting a few thread starting with this one.

I am still struggling with the no fans experience watching the Bundesliga.I think it has to do with it feeling like a preseason friendly due to the lack of a title race. I really enjoyed the Dortmund v Bayen match though. I want to see what it is like with the Pokal matches. I hate the piped in crowd though. That crap has no added value for me. La Liga comes back this Thursday and Italy will start back with the Coppa Italia matches this Friday and Saturday. The EPL with be back on the 17 and Serie A resumes on the 20th.