Soccer Thread 2021-2022
 

I think this is the right way to start of a new thread for the soccer year.

Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona Argentina captain won't sign new contract

PSG bound I think, which is a damn shame. Apparently too late for Pep and would require leaving Kane at the altar so to speak.

Also think there is a chance of a 180 here as Barcelona and La Liga are shady as fuck.

I am closer to this line of thinking. Wasn't it yesterday that Barcelona was in the clear due to the private equity firm buying piece of La Liga?

Pep desperately rummaging in his pockets trying to find his receipt for Grealish…

Hah! I know Messi shares more in common with Grealish, but I actually think Pep wants Grealish more than Kane. He had success with Lewa at Bayern, but he loves midfielders and attackers that can play all over the pitch. From what I understand City wanted Kane last summer, but had their attention diverted when Messi said he wanted to leave. This time I think it's just too late to make it happen and I don't think Pep is all that happy with his ex-player or desperate for him to join. It's City owner that is obsessed with Messi joining City, so unless he decides to overrule Pep I don't see it happening. And I think there is way too much respect between owner/chairman and Pep for that to ever happen.

Manchester United no longer to be called Manchester United in Football Manager. They've "protected their copyright" and they'll be called Manchester UFC in Football Manager 2022.

Another reason to not like them.

Not sure if anyone saw this, but Wesley Fofana will be out until likely Christmas after an absolutely shocking tackle in a pre-season friendly against Villareal.

No place for that type of tackle at any time, but particularly not on the half way line in a preseason friendly

I won’t link the video: although it’s not the worst, there is a little bit of a floppy leg

Some things never change.

Lol

Arsenal still rubbish

I feel like just saying the top two strikers at the club missed the match with "illness" is a bit loaded in the age of COVID.

Good thing City is such a money all squad that doesn't spend as much as everyone else.

Nice troll, dispshit.

To be fair though, without the money you’re Newcastle.

I won the ticket lottery to get seats at the new stadium here in Austin for the USMNT v. Jamaica World Cup Qualifier.

Nice to see after spending most of the last few years moaning about VAR every time decisions didn't go their way, the poor snowflakes who manage some of the largest teams in the world are now moaning about less fouls and letting the game flow ruining the game. When we said we wanted the role of VAR reduced and the game opened up we didn't mean the ones that we benefited from, silly.

Whew! It wasn't me who typed those three letters first in this first lol.

LIVE Transfer Talk: Cristiano Ronaldo agrees deal to join Manchester City

Looks like there’s a spare spot in the squad

Benjamin Mendy charged with rape

Ronaldo is probably the perfect CF for the Man City squad - probably a better fit than Kane

Like for like swap

If CR7 is that good, should be able to play anywhere!

What Easy Mac (did you know he watched Clint Dempsey play at Furman???) is saying is that Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of raped in the past.

No doubt. I suggest you read up on the history of other clubs like Arsenal and United if you haven't already though. They were built on heavy investment at various stages. Besides, I don't really subscribe to the belief that only a handful of clubs deserve to eat at the big boys table. Not that it matters anymore as FFP has closed the drawbridge. Too late to keep out the bad brown guys, however.

Ah - I’d forgotten that.

Remember when COVID shut down the game, football finances were going to be restructured due to no fans in the stand, the entire transfer market was going to be frozen?

Well, Ronaldo is expected to take a 50% pay drop in the new deal.

I hope he’ll be OK, what with the rising cost of living and everything

Looks like Ronaldo is going to Man Utd now instead.

Not surprised. I was shocked when City didn't come out right away and brief the press they were not going to be signing him. I am still holding out hope that another striker is being chased.

I didn't say he was underpaid (though, vs the market, he kinda would be). Just pointing out that along with a few other deals I've seen mentioned there is somewhat of a shift in the norm.

After the Europa League draw, Midge Ure has been asked what he thinks about West Ham drawing Rapid Vienna, he says “this means nothing to me”…

I’ll get my coat…

I am listening to Man City v Arsenal on the radio. Pep has to have pity on his former assistant right?

How are you listening on the radio? SiriusXM or streaming an English feed like BBC??

I had so little knowledge of soccer prior to getting hooked during Leicester's run to the title that I had no idea Ronaldo used to play in the PL.

Arsenal sucks. The one thing I don't get about soccer fans is their ability to put up with only a select few teams having a realistic chance of winning every year. I would love to see an Arsenal get relegated (I know it won't happen but it would be great).

SiriusXM

El Trafico never disappoints. Brian Rodriguez having a game.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Remember when I complained about the England fans booing the national anthems of Germany and Italy... Apparently our very own fans felt the need to make noise during the anthem of Montenegro. At least the English fans didn't run onto the pitch to make a selfie with players or the UEFA managed to keep it from getting broadcasted. We clearly have obtuse football fans as well. Yuck.

Brazil v Argentina world cup qualifier this afternoon went a crazy. Brazilian health authorities decided that some of the Argentina team should have been in covid quarantine, so some health officials walked onto the pitch after seven minutes and halted the game. Dont see that every day. Game has now been abandoned.

Seems like it's the Argentina players who play in England are the ones they're protesting about although nothing official yet. Brazilian covid rules say they should have been in quarantine for 14 days after arriving.

Good luck to FIFA sorting that all out.

At least there isn't an active coup d'etat underway (which is why Morocco is trying to escape from Guinea instead of playing their match)

World Cup field expansion can't come soon enough. Although maybe that won't even be enough for the US to qualify.

Was at the USA vs Canada game and they looked really off. I just dislike Brooks on D, he seems so slow to make decisions and move the ball. The Canadian players spent so much time on the ground. Having watched all of the Concacaf games, these team just was not playing together well.

Did GB forget to make subs? Why did he wait so long with a squad that was completely gassed?

I was thinking the same thing regarding the subs. Not a great lineup or coaching job in this one.

There is some reporting that the health agency issued the decision to call off the match three hours before the match. The football authorities just tried to ignore the decision.

As usual, questionable defending and questionable coaching. Waiting until the 84th minute to make some changes is silly.

This should be an easy 3-0 loss for Argentina here, despite that both football associations are doing crazy stuff here.

Reportedly the Argentinian players tried to get away with fraud to be able to get into Brazil. Did they really expect to be able to return to the UK without getting arrested there? Surely these players will be suspended by the (English) FA upon return to their clubs.

So let me get this straight... the Brazilian FA has had FIFA suspend the players who didn't show up for the games during this break, but had they shown up for the games they would have had to quarantine for 14 days and missed the games anyway?

Seems like only FIFA could fuck a situation up this badly, unless I'm missing something?

Brazilian nationals coming home from the UK were not required to quarantine. The problem for their clubs is that they would be required to quarantine upon their return to the UK.

Also it is not just Brazil that has complained. Paraguay, Chile and Mexico have also complained which may affect Wolves, Newcastle, Watford and Blackburn.