2020/21 Soccer Thread: Messxit?

Mr Bismarck wrote:

Apparently Foden and Greenwood left the English bubble section of their hotel to meet up with Icelandic girls. I understand completely, but at the same time... really, guys?

They were fined by Icelandic police, but didn't say anything to English leadership and Southgate only found out just before training.

Meanwhile, two of the Czech Republic team that beat Slovakia on Friday came into contact with a covid+ member of the coaching staff, so the Czechs sent the entire team home and have 24 new players for today's game against Scotland, 22 of whom haven't played an international game before.

Yeah, but it's only Scotland...

Yep. The Czechs are already 1-0 ahead.

jowner wrote:

Wolves splash 35m on 18 year old Fabio Silva from Porto that I've never really heard of.

Is he Portuguese? Has he touched a football? Welcome to wolves.
We haven't been impressed by him, but who knows.
Anyway, the deal has Jorge Mendes' involvement, so those 40m are being laundered all over the place.

Mr Bismarck wrote:

Yep. The Czechs are already 1-0 ahead.

We did eventually pull it round, but it wasn't pretty. There were times when you would have said it was Scotland that was 'hastily assembled'.

But then it's never been a pain free experience watching Scotland, so.. this is normal.

Mbappe tests positive.

I don't think this round of international games are working very well. I'm not a doctor though or anything.

Who would of thought bringing together a bunch of players who play in different leagues located in different countries then traveling to play games against other teams filled with players from other countries might be problematic.

slazev wrote:
jowner wrote:

Wolves splash 35m on 18 year old Fabio Silva from Porto that I've never really heard of.

Is he Portuguese? Has he touched a football? Welcome to wolves.
We haven't been impressed by him, but who knows.
Anyway, the deal has Jorge Mendes' involvement, so those 40m are being laundered all over the place.

I watched some highlights and ya not sure where the 35m pounds valuation came from besides everyone needed to launder some money.

Makes it even more confusing how Haland was 20m euros at the age of 19 pre pandemic. Maybe there's some sell on clauses or performance kickers in there.

I hope Fabio Silva pans out but ya looks like Portugal have alot of sneaky youth players coming up that they might not even need him.

jowner wrote:

Mbappe tests positive.

I don't think this round of international games are working very well. I'm not a doctor though or anything.

Who would of thought bringing together a bunch of players who play in different leagues located in different countries then traveling to play games against other teams filled with players from other countries might be problematic.

Although I'm not sure of Mbappe's circumstances, I think a lot of this is down to the behaviour of the players while they have technically not been "on duty". Mind you (and given this is not a Covid thread I won't go into detail) I don't think that's entirely uncommon amongst that age group at the moment.

Sorbicol wrote:
jowner wrote:

Mbappe tests positive.

I don't think this round of international games are working very well. I'm not a doctor though or anything.

Who would of thought bringing together a bunch of players who play in different leagues located in different countries then traveling to play games against other teams filled with players from other countries might be problematic.

Although I'm not sure of Mbappe's circumstances, I think a lot of this is down to the behaviour of the players while they have technically not been "on duty". Mind you (and given this is not a Covid thread I won't go into detail) I don't think that's entirely uncommon amongst that age group at the moment.

I'm sure the clubs that pay their wages are ecstatic. I get your point that young rich men might make bad decisions but isn't that where UEFA should help them out?

Just seems extremely problematic acting like things are semi normal when they are not. The game was in Sweden. I don't really see the point of all these National teams traveling to play in empty stadiums.

Considering its all under the UEFA umbrella couldn't they have negotiated for 2-3 week break where all the teams in a group head to one location and just bang out all these games to line UEFA's pockets.

I think most fans would even prefer that to the start stop breaks the international breaks create for the leagues.

jowner wrote:

Makes it even more confusing how Haland was 20m euros at the age of 19 pre pandemic. Maybe there's some sell on clauses or performance kickers in there.

Baffling. you can't even get him that cheap in FIFA.

Excited, Dimmer?

DEAR GOD, MANCHESTER UNITED'S THIRD KIT

My favourite James Rodriguez moment is when that giant bug landed on him in the 2014 World Cup.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/HyaenQ7.png)

Prederick wrote:

Excited, Dimmer?

James has definitely struggled since that World Cup, but there's a player there, and if Ancelotti thinks he can get him producing again, I'm on board.

Between him, Allan, and (reportedly) Doucouré, we would have the core of a new midfield, for roughly the cost of one Harry Maguire - with the added bonus of being less likely to commit assault on Mykonos.

Prederick wrote:

DEAR GOD, MANCHESTER UNITED'S THIRD KIT

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/g8fMTk1.jpg)

Minneapolis SC did it better (and also a season earlier).

As a lover of the beautiful game, I'm thrilled for the idea of James landing somewhere that he might actually get substantial minutes. His career is a cautionary tale about going to the biggest club that will sign you.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

Between him, Allan, and (reportedly) Doucouré, we would have the core of a new midfield, for roughly the cost of one Harry Maguire - with the added bonus of being less likely to commit assault on Mykonos.

There are few things in life I am super rigid about for little reason.

"f*ck Doucouré" is on that list.

IMAGE(https://cdn.chatsports.com/cache/bf/82/bf82a606e3cba2822eb149f07ec3a3db-original.jpg)

Totally understand being salty about that. (Similarly, I still think Jon Moss should not be allowed to referee Everton matches, based on McCarthy getting a yellow card for having the temerity to be choked by Ivanović right in front of the ref).

For what it's worth, I haven't been all that impressed by Doucouré and would rather we look elsewhere, but if Ancelotti and Brands think he's what we need, I'm willing to see what he can do (especially if we land him for the 20m fee I've seen bandied about).

Hey, do we want to do a GWJ fantasy league this season?

Dimmerswitch wrote:
Prederick wrote:

DEAR GOD, MANCHESTER UNITED'S THIRD KIT

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/g8fMTk1.jpg)

Minneapolis SC did it better (and also a season earlier).

I don't know what's up with about this season, but I'm seeing a lot of horrendous kits.

The Man U kit is utter garbage. I had to make sure it wasn't a hoax as I couldn't believe a club that big would have a kit that bad.

Look at this beauty!

IMAGE(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EVfX5O_LRTs/X05Rcd1euZI/AAAAAAACfVo/Y_KIK1XU2XETgewVPUoKf1fp1dm2uZvFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s550/portugal-euro-2020-away-kit-9.jpg)

That Man Utd 3rd kit looks like one of those puzzles where you have to stare at it cross-eyed to see the hidden image.

Man City's 3rd kit isn't any better. What are they? Amoebas or something?

After watching England's dire performance against Denmark tonight I can confidently say that Foden and Greenwood's excursion doesn't matter because this team couldn't even pass Covid to each other.

That Portugal Jersey is so much better than the Man U 3rd kit. Speaking of Portugal Ronaldo nets International goals 100 and 101. Both goals were pretty nice to watch.

Goals 100 & 101

I don't want to be hyperbolic, and personally, I still have Messi a hair ahead of him (like, a single hair), but Ronaldo genuinely is the best goalscorer I've ever seen in my personal soccer-viewing lifetime (so since 2002).

Like, there are others I've seen who were great, others who I liked more, but for sheer, clinical, prolific ability, I don't have anyone coming close.

Ouch. I wondered how he got the black eye. Tuned into the game around 20m in and assumed he got it in game.

Speaking of horrendous kits this year, my teams:

Houston Dynamo: It's an even numbered year, time for a can't-miss black kit - but no, it's terrible. Did not buy.

US Soccer - One bizarre inkstain even a mother couldn't love, and one genuinely good-looking, clean white kit that looks very similar to last year's World Cup kits, making it a bit too redundant to get my money.

Tottenham - FOUR kits this year, and I don't like any of them. I hate Nike's designs so much, and sadly they also have US Soccer's contract.

So, I guess I'm saving money on kit purchases this year. Yay?

The kit prices are also getting more and more outrageous.

Btw, regarding Fábio Silva's transfer, out of the 40 million euros, at least 10 million were for commissions. This was publicly disclosed by Porto.

slazev wrote:

Btw, regarding Fábio Silva's transfer, out of the 40 million euros, at least 10 million were for commissions. This was publicly disclosed by Porto.

I think global soccer does most things better than the North American sports cartels. Agents are not one of them.

I always find the idea of agents getting a cut of transfers outrageous. They should have a fiduciary responsibility to their clients and should just get a flat percentage of the player's salary.