Soccer Thread 2019-2020

[whomario]

If it all happens, next years schedule will be brutal. Bundesliga starts a month later but finishes the same + a couple UEL/UCL participants still matches outstanding before the break + extra National team fixtures.

[miami_fan]

For about five seconds, I found myself trying to judge whether the Norwich player was hurting enough by the club’s relegation. What the hell is wrong with me and who can I blame for influencing me to this asinine way of thinking?

[miami_fan]

How is everyone liking the pandemic rule changes. It sounds like they are going to continue having five subs through next season at the least. I am neutral on that one. I have no interest in the water break at all but the coaching break that it has become is starting to grow on me.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

How is everyone liking the pandemic rule changes. It sounds like they are going to continue having five subs through next season at the least. I am neutral on that one. I have no interest in the water break at all but the coaching break that it has become is starting to grow on me.

They're going to need it all across the globe, but especially with clubs that are supposed to play in the UEFA competitions and with players that are going to play in Euro2020 in summer 2021.

[AlexB]

Benefits the bigger clubs, why wouldn’t UEFA want it to be permanent.

I don’t mind the coaching aspect of the water break, but the extra subs is just another step towards a European elite

[ISiddiqui]

I have a sneaking suspicion they'll both be permanent.

Watching MLS is Back tournament and damn, everyone is rusty (well aside from Red Bull NY apparently, which was just Atlanta's luck) , which is compounded by playing in Orlando in July.

[Ksyrup]

Somebody explain how the CP goal that was overturned by VAR was clear and erroneous? The technology is no good if it isn't utilized properly.

[miami_fan]

Manchester City escape Champions League ban after CAS appeal

FFP is done now right?

[miami_fan]

I am so here for the post match interview of Adebayo Akinfenwa after the English League One playoff final.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Manchester City escape Champions League ban after CAS appeal

FFP is done now right?

The UEFA must have done a terrible job and made a disastrous bad case here. Manchester City was the second most obvious case that should have resulted in punishment, this was supposed to be a no-brainer.

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

FFP is done now right?

Only if Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, and the rest of the G-14 say so.

I miss the days when only the best of the best and the white of the white could spend money and compete!

Player	Postion	Year	Adjusted fee
Zinedine Zidane	M	2001	328
Luís Figo	M	2000	284
Hernán Crespo	F	2000	268
Neymar	F	2017	261
Christian Vieri	F	1999	230
Gianluigi Buffon	G	2001	220
Cristiano Ronaldo	F	2009	209
Gaizka Mendieta	M	2001	187
Lilian Thuram	D	2001	175
Juan Sebastián Verón	M	2001	166
Rio Ferdinand	D	2002	166
Rui Costa	M	2001	164
Ronaldo (Brazil)	F	2002	162
Zlatan Ibrahimovic	F	2009	155
Gareth Bale	F	2013	152
Kaká	F	2009	149
Kylian Mbappé	F	2018	146
Paul Pogba	M	2016	134
Philippe Coutinho	F	2018	130
Ousmane Dembélé	F	2017	123
Luis Suárez	F	2014	123
Andrii Shevchenko	F	2007	115
Gonzalo Higuaín	F	2016	114
James Rodríguez	M	2014	113
Ángel Di María	M	2014	113
Fernando Torres	F	2011	112
Cristiano Ronaldo	F	2018	108
Edinson Cavani	F	2013	104
Belgium Kevin De Bruyne	M	2015	103
Eden Hazard	F	2019	100
Romelu Lukaku	F	2017	100
Radamel Falcao	F	2013	97
Robinho	F	2009	96
Neymar	F	2013	92
Virgil van Dijk	D	2018	92
Ángel Di María	M	2015	88
Kepa Arrizabalaga	G	2018	87
Raheem Sterling	F	2015	86
Andy Carroll	F	2010	84
David Luiz	D	2014	84
Lucas Hernandez	D	2019	80
Álvaro Morata	F	2017	77
Thomas Lemar	M	2018	76
Frenkie de Jong	M	2019	75
Riyad Mahrez	F	2018	73
Oscar	M	2017	72
Hulk	F	2016	71
John Stones	D	2016	71
Aymeric Laporte	D	2018	71
Anthony Martial	F	2015	70
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	F	2018	69
Benjamin Mendy	D	2017	68
Alisson Becker	G	2018	68
Kyle Walker	D	2017	67
Naby Keïta	M	2018	65
Christian Pulisic	F	2019	64
Fred	M	2018	64
Alexandre Lacazette	F	2017	62
Jorginho	M	2018	62
Diego Costa	F	2018	62
Luka Jovic	F	2019	60

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Somebody explain how the CP goal that was overturned by VAR was clear and erroneous? The technology is no good if it isn't utilized properly.

I'll go ahead and bump this up. The question applies more today that over the weekend IMO.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Only if Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, and the rest of the G-14 say so.

Just because the rich keep getting richer and as a result get away with cheating, that doesn't mean the biggest cheaters Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain shouldn't get away with it. The depressing part is that for whatever reasons, UEFA can't or won't get enough evidence to get them banned, which either means they aren't really cheating, or the difference with those other clubs is so small, if they keep digging, everybody in those leagues will have to be banned. And perhaps they should, it's no secret Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United (and who knows) aren't playing 'fair' under the financial fair play rules either.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

I'll go ahead and bump this up. The question applies more today that over the weekend IMO.

Yeah no kidding. The rubber on the front of his toe? Seriously? What a joke. It wasn't even clear that it was on or over the line, much less a call that should have been overturned.

[miami_fan]

I guess Sean Dyche has finally gotten onboard and is teaching his players to play act now.

[miami_fan]

It would not take too much to believe that Norwich was a part of a match fixing scheme today.

[RainMaker]

Pulisic seems really good.

[miami_fan]

For the first time I have missed the fans during a Covid-era sporting event. I am not a Liverpool fan but Anfield should have been packed today for that trophy presentation.

[21C]

It was interesting to see the results on the last day of the English Championship.

Leeds had clinched top spot and automatic promotion to the Premier League but second place and another automatic spot was up for grabs. West Brom needed to win to be assured of keeping their second place position but drew against QPR. That left the door open for Brentford, who had been on an 8-game win streak until losing their penultimate game to Stoke, and Fulham. Fulham drew while Brentford lost at home to Barnsley who had been second last before the final day started. The Barnsley win saved them (possibly temporarily) from relegation to League One.

Hull, Charlton and Wigan were the bottom three and relegated. Wigan is only there because of a 12 point deduction for facing administration. They are appealing the point deduction because they went into administration on July 1 only a month after being sold to investors from Hong Kong.

Brentford and Fulham are joined by the Welsh teams, Cardiff and Swansea, in the promotion playoffs. Nottingham Forest missed out on a spot on goal difference, by one goal, after a final game loss to Stoke. Swansea and Forest ended up on the same number of competition points but Swansea won their last game 4-1 while Forest lost 4-1 with Swansea finishing on a goal difference of +9 and Forest on +8.

[bhlloy]

That Forest/Swansea scenario was insane... basically all Forest had to do was not get blown out, at home, to Stoke who were in the bottom half with absolutely nothing to play for.

Now watch Swansea go and get promoted, just dear lord please not against us in the final. At least there won't be any trouble without fans, so if Cardiff - Swansea is ever going to happen at Wembley, this might be the best time for it.

[bhlloy]

DOLA - also, the only reason Wigan are going down due to that 12 point penalty is they were bought by a shady Hong Kong syndicate who put them almost straight into administration, thereby driving the value to close to nothing on an asset they had just bought for quite a bit of money. There's a lot of speculation there's some nefarious reasons at play - including the chairman of the EFL getting a bit drunk, telling a fan that it was done for gambling reasons while being secretly recorded.

2020, what a fucking year.

[CarterNMA]

NBC is showing five of the most important games today at 1100 across their networks.
West Ham v. Aston Villa on NBCSN
Leicester City v. Man U on local NBC channel
Chelsea v. Wolverhampton on USA
Everton v. AFC Bournemouth on CNBC
Arsenal v. Watford on Golf Channel

FIVE SIMULTANEOUS GAMES!

Bravo, NBC, bravo.

Kind of glad Bournemouth is going down. I hate their stadium. The camera angles are terrible.

Glad to see Leeds back up in the big league. Now I just need Bradford to get out of League 2...ho hum.

[miami_fan]

Outside of supporters of a particular team, does the match or matches you choose to watch today say something about you? I could care less about the top 4 matches but I will be keep my eye on who will be going down along with Norwich.

[AlexB]

Bugger

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by CarterNMA

NBC is showing five of the most important games today at 1100 across their networks.
West Ham v. Aston Villa on NBCSN
Leicester City v. Man U on local NBC channel
Chelsea v. Wolverhampton on USA
Everton v. AFC Bournemouth on CNBC
Arsenal v. Watford on Golf Channel

FIVE SIMULTANEOUS GAMES!

Bravo, NBC, bravo.

Kind of glad Bournemouth is going down. I hate their stadium. The camera angles are terrible.

Glad to see Leeds back up in the big league. Now I just need Bradford to get out of League 2...ho hum.

Watford deserve to go down after sacking the manager that very nearly made them safe with 2 games to go, and I really want Villa to go down due to the way that they play, and Grealish in particular for his persistent falling over

So I guess that means I want Bournemouth to stay up!

[miami_fan]

WTH was West Ham keeper doing?

[miami_fan]

Watford and Bournmouth are down.

[AlexB]

#1 Should be delighted with 5th. Disappointed though
#2 Don’t care about the Champions League. Annoyed we missed out
#3 Care even less about the Europa League. Excited we’re in it

I’m confused

[miami_fan]

I know it is like being happy for Satan but I am happy that Manchester United has made the CL. I feel like the anger at Ole Gunnar Solskjær being in the manager's office is way over the top.

[Critch]

Last day of the season isnt the same without shots of fans crying in the stands.

[Ksyrup]

Sucks for Leicester to drop to 5th but too many injuries to end the year and only taking 1 out of 6 points against Norwich killed their top 3 chances.

[miami_fan]

Don't you dare fuck this up Cottagers!

[miami_fan]

*exhales*

[bhlloy]

Brilliant final tarnished somewhat by some awful refereeing decisions in the last 20 mins. Pulisic hopefully can get past all these muscle injuries to reach his full potential.

[miami_fan]

Come on Fulham!

[Critch]

Arsenal have fired their head of UK scouting, head of international scouting, and 10 other senior scouts.

They're going to move towards "agent-led" signings, less uncovering young talent and more singing 30-something who've been released by Chelsea. Undoing everything Wenger set up for a short-term cost cutting.

Not clear whether this is part of the 55 redundancies they announced yesterday, or on top of it.

[miami_fan]

Instead of trying to get me to B/R app, the Champions League and Europa League are going to try to get me to sign up for CBS Access now? I guess I will be watching Univision.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Critch

Arsenal have fired their head of UK scouting, head of international scouting, and 10 other senior scouts.

They're going to move towards "agent-led" signings, less uncovering young talent and more singing 30-something who've been released by Chelsea. Undoing everything Wenger set up for a short-term cost cutting.

Not clear whether this is part of the 55 redundancies they announced yesterday, or on top of it.

Didn't they ask the players to take a pay cut to prevent this from happening?

[Critch]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Instead of trying to get me to B/R app, the Champions League and Europa League are going to try to get me to sign up for CBS Access now? I guess I will be watching Univision.

B/R App was $59 for the year and had soccer and nothing else worth watching for me.

CBS Access is $59 for the year (with a free month's trial too) and has Star Trek:Picard. So that's a tradeup for me.

And yes, most Arsenal players did take a paycut to reduce redundancies. Looks like the scouting changes are more of a conscious direction change than a pure covid money-saver though.

[AlexB]

While I think the Kieran Tierney signing was good, anyone that recommended signing Pepe for £72m can’t have too many arguments if they are let go

[MIJB#19]

Yes, that's right, I've got my tv on with Manchester City playing Real Madrid.

There's clearly something wrong with me.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Yes, that's right, I've got my tv on with Manchester City playing Real Madrid.

There's clearly something wrong with me.

Shame on you for turning your back on UEFA!

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I have a sneaking suspicion they'll both be permanent.

Watching MLS is Back tournament and damn, everyone is rusty (well aside from Red Bull NY apparently, which was just Atlanta's luck) , which is compounded by playing in Orlando in July.

I had similar concerns, particularly about the subs, but EPL voted both down this week.

And, even more surprisingly, they voted for FIFA VAR protocol, so no more Mike Riley rules, which can only be a good thing

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Shame on you for turning your back on UEFA!

In a way, they sort of came through, they tried to suspend Paris SG and Manchester City, but we all know by now their cases didn't hold enough grounds to get anything more than a small fine.
Barcelona and Chelsea have had their transfer bans.
Small victories, I suppose. *shrug*

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

In a way, they sort of came through, they tried to suspend Paris SG and Manchester City, but we all know by now their cases didn't hold enough grounds to get anything more than a small fine.
Barcelona and Chelsea have had their transfer bans.
Small victories, I suppose. *shrug*

I have no idea why you would be watching Champions League at all. It sounds like you should be watching local amateur soccer and nothing else.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

I have no idea why you would be watching Champions League at all. It sounds like you should be watching local amateur soccer and nothing else.

Of course not. I'm still interested in watching the highest quality of football. I've been watching the UEFA Champions League for more than 20 years, until the Neymar and Mbappé non-sense. The UEFA has to find a better way to enforce their financial fair play, apparently the rules aren't clear enough or too easy to break or get away with just slaps on the wrist.

At the same time, the national football associations aren't getting anything done either, they're not enforcing any point deductions to those clubs that are destroying the credibility of their branch either, let alone relegations if these clubs continue to not play by the rules. FFP still has too much grey area, perhaps?

[bhlloy]

VAR is fucking garbage. How to take the beauty and skill out of the game. That has never been a handball in any level of the game ever.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

VAR is fucking garbage. How to take the beauty and skill out of the game. That has never been a handball in any level of the game ever.

Hard to reply in detail with the details of the situation absent, but in general you can't blame the usage of VAR for the changes to the handball rule that have coincidentally been introduced at the same time. You can claim that the introduction of VAR made it easier to enforce the seemingly inhumane handball rule in situations where the referee was never going to be able to see it.

[bhlloy]

Right. There’s the level of handball that the ref can see in real time, then there’s the absurd brush of the hand by a millimeter that had no bearing on the play that VAR enables. My guess is the rule changes wouldn’t have actually had much effect at all if VAR wasn’t there to take it to the absurd level.

[Critch]

Barcelona v Bayern. Wow. Football is a funny old game.