2020/21 Soccer Thread: Messxit?

He's going to have a hard time beating his 3-season speed run of 517 days at Tottenham.

Oh wow, only a month ago The Athletic posted this:

And I thought this Roma coach was up and coming

Man, I remember when Roma was supposed to be a smart, analytics-using club.

(Apparently that was one owner ago and their head analytics guy left for the NBA)

Well, no matter who makes it now, I'm favoring City, but of the two remaining semifinalists, I think Chelsea has the best chance to beat them.

EDIT: UH...

@ESPNFC wrote:

PSG's last shot on target vs. Man City was in the 28th minute of the first leg

What a collection of petulant children PSG are.

Madrid is wearing Black socks and I'm okay with them getting a ban for that alone.

Chelsea should be up 4 or 5-0 right now. Some poor finishing, but Courtois has been immense.

How is Kante just this good? Even his BAD season was only bad because it wasn't up to his usual astronomic standards.

Prederick wrote:

How is Kante just this good? Even his BAD season was only bad because it wasn't up to his usual astronomic standards.

He's so good AND so likeable. It's almost unfair.

Speaking on BT, Martin Keown wonders whether Arsenal will persist with Arteta. “He was outsmarted by the previous manager, which is a bit of an embarrassment.” Freddie Ljungberg says: “Something was wrong ... I felt like they didn’t know what to do ... It felt very passive.”

Also, some BIG lulz for Unai Emery tonight.

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0xa9wOWUAAZywv?format=jpg&name=small)

Honest to God, can we place bets on how long this will last? I will Venmo someone $10 if I'm wrong.

He’ll probably do quite well in his first season. Then it’ll all fall apart. So about 18 months.

Prederick wrote:
Speaking on BT, Martin Keown wonders whether Arsenal will persist with Arteta. “He was outsmarted by the previous manager, which is a bit of an embarrassment.” Freddie Ljungberg says: “Something was wrong ... I felt like they didn’t know what to do ... It felt very passive.”

Also, some BIG lulz for Unai Emery tonight.

I don't think there can afford to replace Arteta.

Maybe no Europe = Kronke saying f*ck this and selling out. Probably need the fans to not show up for games also.

The first episode of "FC United" aired last week on Flemish public TV, a series on racism in football with players like Vadis Odjidja, Zhino Ghano and Romelu Lukaku. He shared a harrowing anecdote.

When he was 16 he visited Lille FC, where Eden Hazard was playing at that moment. He fell in love with the training facilities and was ready to sign, but had to pass the medical screening. After the standard tests they told Lukaku they had to take a scan. He thought this was for his knees or ankles or something, but the doctor told him to stand like so and so.

When he came out of the doctor's office, his dad asked him what happened. In Lingala, so the doctors wouldn't understand, Romelu said "they did that age test like for kids who got smuggled into Europe". The family excused themselves, never called back, the year after Lukaku turned pro at Anderlecht.

Financial penalties for England's "Super clubs." And Spurs.

The two Milan clubs and Atleti get the same deal.

Watch this space for Barca, Real and Piemont Calcio who are nominally still in the ESL.

Mr Bismarck wrote:

Financial penalties for England's "Super clubs." And Spurs.

The two Milan clubs and Atleti get the same deal.

Watch this space for Barca, Real and Piemont Calcio who are nominally still in the ESL.

Slap on the wrist for the clubs not in the triumvirate. But I guess that's more than I expected?

jowner wrote:

Maybe no Europe = Kronke saying f*ck this and selling out. Probably need the fans to not show up for games also.

More likely a phone call to Perez asking if there's a new way they can get this thing done.

I mean, I support the fan protests, but I think we'd all agree that dudes like that are used to getting their way all the time, and don't back down to anyone, much less a bunch of angry peasants. If they want him out, dig in, because Newcastle fans want Ashley, a much, much less rich and powerful man out, and that's gone.... not great.

Speaking of Ashley, we've mentioned he's suing the PL, right?.

Likely so he can sell to the Saudis.

Just gonna rub it in, eh Newcastle?

That was fun to follow along online, but I was worried Newcastle were going to pull an Arsenal.

West Brom Relegation confirmed.

Big Sam the unsinkable.... finally sunk.

Prederick wrote:

Big Sam the unsinkable.... finally sunk.

And we join him. Blech.

Prederick wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Big Sam the unsinkable.... finally sunk.

And we join him. Blech.

Unlucky Pred, but I would say that Parker looks like a promising bet if you'll stick with him for a season or two more. Suspect you'll be straight back up this season.

Looking forward to Man United playing their under 15 squad against Leicester tomorrow. Before anyone says anything, I would say I'd expect Liverpool to do exactly the same thing if the roles were reversed!

Tough words from Serie A about Piemont Calcio.

A 3-0 defeat to Milan at the weekend means Juve might not have to worry about being kicked out of the Champions League next season. A timely reminder of why they are all in on a closed competition in the first place.

Eh, i'm not sure. We've got a bunch of players no-one really wants on gargantuan contracts, and this team only got in through the playoffs last year, we weren't Leeds. I'm going to stay positive but especially in a post-COVID football market, this could go real bad wrong for Fulham.

Man City have been crowned Premier League champions after a second string Man Utd side were (just about) seen off by Leicester City this afternoon. Congratulations etc etc.

So that's the champions and all the relegation places settled with 3 games to go. The only place with a little excitement is for 4th place (the Arsenal Cup) but I suspect that the result today has also probably settled that too.

After the most extraordinary season in living memory, it all feels like a bit of a damp squib at the end.

Lord, I know I shouldn't be surprised, but my GOD the comments on any article on a ManU-Liverpool game are the dumbest place on Earth. OGS is 2nd, in a European final and apparently is a "small-time" manager in charge of a "joke" of a team that failed their opportunity to put pressure on City.

Like, what sport are these people even watching at this point?

Anyway, big win for Liverpool, I'm more interested to see if Atleti can drag themselves over the line.

Prederick wrote:

Lord, I know I shouldn't be surprised, but my GOD the comments on any article on a ManU-Liverpool game are the dumbest place on Earth. OGS is 2nd, in a European final and apparently is a "small-time" manager in charge of a "joke" of a team that failed their opportunity to put pressure on City.

Like, what sport are these people even watching at this point?

Anyway, big win for Liverpool, I'm more interested to see if Atleti can drag themselves over the line.

I have to say that OSG has been the big surprise for me this season. He’s done genuinely well and Bruno Fernandez has been as influential a figure for them as Van Dijk has been for Liverpool.

It was an excellent performance by Liverpool last night though, for the first time in ages they felt a like team playing like they had something to play for and were determined to win. Thanks to the Leicester v Chelsea game this week - one of them will have to drop points - if they can win all their games they will get 4th place. Be interesting to see if they can do it.

Sorbicol wrote:

Bruno Fernandes

Not Spanish.