2022/23 Soccer Thread: Finals Week(s)

Good luck today, Pred!

I cannot imagine that he'd come to us, but he's a far better manager than we deserve.

Though again, until the board goes, I think we're stuck in this downward spiral.

Prederick wrote:

Sean Dyche is available.

We could combine him with fat Sam to make Sean Allardyche. The ultimate Premier League survival merchant.

Given the way the club is run I presume their search for a new manager started 10 minutes after they decided to sack Lamps. No forethought or planning in place.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Good luck today, Pred!

Bleeech. Fine margins, fine, fine margins. We were good early, then a moment of Kane being Kane, and then we couldn't get back into it.

EDIT: sh*t day for Aberdeen though.

bbk1980 wrote:
Dimmerswitch wrote:

I had hope for Lampard (he did well with no budget at Chelsea). I don't know who on earth would take the job at this point - it's such an utterly poisoned chalice, especially since the board is not going anywhere.

*shudder* Actually, I can think of one person.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/SKOKtJM.gif)

Please no.

Alan Pardew in the queue just behind him.

No love for Steve Bruce or Mark Hughes?

Hughes, maybe.

If Everton even countenances hiring Bruce, the fans are well within their rights to burn Goodison down.

LilCodger wrote:
bbk1980 wrote:
Dimmerswitch wrote:

I had hope for Lampard (he did well with no budget at Chelsea). I don't know who on earth would take the job at this point - it's such an utterly poisoned chalice, especially since the board is not going anywhere.

*shudder* Actually, I can think of one person.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/SKOKtJM.gif)

Please no.

Alan Pardew in the queue just behind him.

No love for Steve Bruce or Mark Hughes?

We could even get to hear Steve Maclarens scouse accent.

I'll get this correct in at least one thread:

Everton are now for sale.

I did the conversion and... am I insane or is that unbelievably cheap? Like, Everton, a longtime member of the Premier League, the biggest domestic football league in the world, are being sold for less than nine different MLS franchises?

Prederick wrote:

I'll get this correct in at least one thread:

Everton are now for sale.

I did the conversion and... am I insane or is that unbelievably cheap? Like, Everton, a longtime member of the Premier League, the biggest domestic football league in the world, are being sold for less than nine different MLS franchises?

Given where they are in the league? not really. On the other hand, there is a new stadium being built so maybe. Hard to say to be honest, there is so much wrong at that club to be sorted someone will need to invest a hell of a lot of money.

Also, when Newcastle were sold for what they were sold, it doesn't look that bad. Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool are all hideously overpriced, but that doesn't mean there are people out there willing to spend that sort of money.

Prederick wrote:

I'll get this correct in at least one thread:

Everton are now for sale.

I did the conversion and... am I insane or is that unbelievably cheap? Like, Everton, a longtime member of the Premier League, the biggest domestic football league in the world, are being sold for less than nine different MLS franchises?

It pays to invest in a cartel in North American sports instead of teams in leagues you can be relegated from.

Yes that seems on the cheap side.

One obvious variable though is MLS clubs don't get relegated.

Counter to that it's the MLS but I haven't dug into what revenue numbers for the MLS are especially for TV revenue.

I think what might be really hurting Everton also is for 'old' EPL watchers we still might somewhat associate them as the club that's always knocking on the CL door.

They are more consistently going to be relegation fights currently than getting bonus Europe TV money. The sale price is probably taking into account the £££ required to invest in players.

Only 6 clubs have never been relegated from the Premier League:

Manchester United
Arsenal
Liverpool
Chelsea
Spurs

and Everton. That should add something to the value. If they sell it quick.

Sorbicol wrote:

Only 6 clubs have never been relegated from the Premier League:

Manchester United
Arsenal
Liverpool
Chelsea
Spurs

and Everton. That should add something to the value. If they sell it quick.

Everton have been in the top flight since 1954. Only Arsenal (1919) have been there longer.

I'm not sure how much that will affect their value, though. The five clubs you mention above all have a much higher "global profile" and make a lot more money from the commercial side of their operations.

Prederick wrote:

Everton are now for sale.

I did the conversion and... am I insane or is that unbelievably cheap? Like, Everton, a longtime member of the Premier League, the biggest domestic football league in the world, are being sold for less than nine different MLS franchises?

Moshiri has now denied the club is for sale.

Arnaut Danjuma, who apparently had completed a medical and even done photos in an Everton jersey, was poached by Spurs.

Gordon has now missed three days of training, though he's apparently too timid to turn in a transfer request.

Bielsa is proving too smart to join the shambles of a club that Everton have become (and who can blame him).

Grim times, and the fact we'll have the best stadium in the Championship is cold comfort indeed.

Board needs to go, and I'd also be supportive of a sale, if there's an ownership group competent and capable of running a top-flight club.

Well, there it is.

Dyche expected to be announced as the new Everton boss.

Well, called it.

Brighton say no to £60m for Caicedo from Arsenal.

Brighton's experience is why I don't take a lot of criticisms about clubs not being "real" and "spending their way to success" seriously. Because the only way in is to do just that, or else the big clubs swoop down and poach all your best players.

Ronaldo, Messi and the 2030 World Cup? A week of watching Saudi Arabia's major soccer ambitions

And since loadsamoney rules the day, it ends up with outcomes like this.

When fans arrived at the King Fahd International Stadium to watch the Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and Inter Milan last week, they were each handed an LED wristband that was programmed to flash red or blue (the colours of the two teams) whenever a goal went in. Each time Inter scored in their 3-0 win, the wristbands turned the stadium into a wave of bouncing blue lights -- an impressive spectacle on an otherwise dark and cold desert night. The rights to stage the one game cost $8 million alone, but there's no expense spared when Saudi Arabia puts on a show.

For over a week, the eyes of the soccer world were fixed on Saudi Arabia, but its hope is to remain the centre of attention for much longer.

On Jan. 15, the capital Riyadh staged the Spanish Supercopa between Barcelona and Real Madrid. On Jan. 18, it was the Italian version featuring Milan and Inter, two of Serie A's biggest teams. Less than 24 hours later they had Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo in a "G.O.A.T.s in the Gulf" exhibition game between Paris Saint-Germain and a Riyadh All-Star XI and then, to top it off, Ronaldo's debut for Al Nassr in their own Saudi Pro League.

In the space of seven days, Saudi fans were treated to two of the biggest club games in European soccer, a head-to-head between two of the greatest players in history and then a league match featuring Ronaldo, one of the most famous people on the planet, in their country.

The Middle East isn't shy when it comes to bold statements of intent, but even by its standards it was a big week. The future, though, could be even more seismic.

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

Never change, El Loco.

I watched the Leeds game today, some of the Leeds players are going to get in trouble for using the width of the pitch because the goal is in the middle after all. God we are dull to watch and still in a relagation battle. Bamford is back though so maybe that will improve things.

Bielsa is the best, can't believe Everton thought he would take over mid season. You have to invest in his style to be rewarded. He made us Leeds again, and brought connection to the community. There is a reason why there is a mural to him in Leeds.

It was Fulham in the 00's and early 10's, and now, in the 2020s, Leeds has officially taken the mantle as "USMNT FC"

Nottingham Forest signing Jonjo Shelvey.

25 players since they got promoted. Just insanity.

I don't think I've redone a squad like that even when I'm managing in the lower leagues in FM where I'm just signing a bunch of frees hoping some will be good.

It's insane. If it were FM, the squad dynamics would be abysmal.

Meanwhile, Wrexham, so close to the Hollywood ending, but a hell of a game to have against the team currently 2nd in the Championship.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's annus horribilis continues.

This is getting genuinely ridiculous.

Like, to be 100% honest, I don't think he's worth €120m, and I don't think Caicedo's worth, what, is it £80m?

Prederick wrote:

Meanwhile, Liverpool's annus horribilis continues.

Liverpool were better today - much better, but there is still a lot of fixing to do. Salah missed a goal he would have scored blindfolded last season, and Gakpo is a little frustrating. Like Darwin, he's trying so hard to score a goal it's just not happening.

The Brighton equaliser Lewis Dunk knew nothing about and was extremely unlucky from Liverpool's point of view, but then when things aren't going your way, it's exactly the sort of luck you sort of expect. The second half really could have gone either way to be honest, either team could have deserved to win. I'm seen some crap about how Liverpool played today - it was a long way from their best, but for large parts they were the equal of Brighton. Meh. at least it's another set of games we can take a break from.

As for Wrexham, the coverage of this tie today really started to get up my nose a bit after an hour or two. Just because you're owned by Hollywood superstars doesn't give you a god given right to win a game. The commentators I was listening too on the BBC (well, one of them) seemed to have forgotten that had impartiality had gone out of the window. Listening to him talk about Wrexham's "Winning" goal where there was still 10 minutes to go (plus 7 minutes of stoppage time) - lets just say there was a certain amount of Schadenfreude in Sheffield's equaliser, that's all I'm saying. Wrexham are clearly too good a team to be in the Conference league at the moment, but you still have to earn your promotion / way out.

Heard someone put it nicely: Napoli is so far ahead in Serie A, they're in the 2023-24 season.

Without doubt, the best sh*t-housery you'll see all year.

Also, if you didn't see Mitoma's winner against Liverpool, please go look. It's "will be a skill move in FIFA 24"-good.

The presence of mind to do that. Plus the ref ‘I should probably book you but I won’t because that was too clever by half’

Prederick wrote:

This is getting genuinely ridiculous.

Like, to be 100% honest, I don't think he's worth €120m, and I don't think Caicedo's worth, what, is it £80m?

Agreed. He's still very good though and a key piece to the team. I didn't want him to leave, but might as well let him go. His head will be elsewhere otherwise and his performance will most likely tank for the rest of the season. If he goes right now he'll probably suffer the fate of Renato Sanches and João Félix. Everyone will lose. Wow. I got a case of the blue Mondays, don't I?

Prederick wrote:

Without doubt, the best sh*t-housery you'll see all year.

Also, if you didn't see Mitoma's winner against Liverpool, please go look. It's "will be a skill move in FIFA 24"-good.

Honestly not sure which of those moves is dirtier.

Joao Cancelo to Bayern on loan?

Had no idea he fell down the pecking order at City. Seems strange that you would assume they would still want him as depth for rest of this seasons push.